Silicon Graphics Inc has settled its patent infringement lawsuit against Nvidia Corp, the 3D graphics chipmaker. In April 1998, Mountain View, California-based SGI accused Santa Clara, California-based Nvidia of using its own patented technology for texture mapping (CI No 3,388). Having reached a detente, the former antagonists now plan to work together. Nvidia is to license SGI’s patent portfolio and SGI has licensed Nvidia’s. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Nvidia is one of the few 3D graphics chipmakers without a manufacturing plant of its own, so it’s little wonder that executives are being nice to a freshly placated SGI. For the past 15 years, SGI has been the most important 3D graphics company in the world and has created many of the fundamental technologies for 3D computer graphics, admitted Nvidia president and CEO Jen-Hsun Huang. SGI chairman and CEO Rick Belluzzo was equally complimentary about his company’s newest partner: Nvidia has an impressive team of 3D technologists, an intense focus on delivering industry-leading technology and the strongest product roadmap for the high-volume 3D graphics industry, he said.
