As we suggested it would back in April (CI No 1,397), Hitachi Ltd is demanding rights to fabricate the 68030 microprocessor as its price for settling the disputes between it and Motorola Inc, Electronic News believes. Motorola is in an excruciatingly weak bargaining position because it has the shadow of a court order barring it from selling the 68030 in the US hanging over it. Electronic News believes Hitachi may be demanding the 68040 as well. Hitachi was the Japanese official second source for the family up to the 68010, but Motorola denied it masks for the 68020. It has since formed a joint venture in Japan with Toshiba Corp that inter alia makes the 68020, and is no doubt worried that if it were to acceed to Hitachi demands, its relationship with Toshiba would be disrupted. There have also been suggestions that it has offered licences on communications equipment.
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