Fairchild Semiconductor said that it has settled patent lawsuits with Infineon Technologies and has also entered into a broad cross-license agreement with the company related to the semiconductor technology.
The two companies filed patent infringement lawsuits against each other in Maine and Delaware courts in November, 2008. The suits consisted of fourteen patents related to super-junction power transistors along with trench power MOSFETs and IGBT power transistors.
Fairchild said that the it will record a $6m charge in the fourth quarter related to the settlement and cross-license. Infineon said that it will receive payments from Fairchild as part of the agreement, but specific terms and conditions of the agreement were not disclosed.
In addition, Infineon said that it is currently in patent licensing discussions with a number of semiconductor companies, which it views such discussions as essential to the continuing protection of intellectual property and business interests.
