Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Intel has stolen Core Duo patent from the university researcher
Patent No. 5,781,752, entitled "Table Based Data Speculation Circuit for Parallel Processing Computer."
A predictor circuit permits advanced execution of instructions depending for their data on previous instructions by predicting such dependencies based on previous mis-speculations detected at the final stages of processing. Synchronization of dependent instructions is provided by a table creating entries for each instance of potential dependency.
The university, however, had decided not to inform Intel before it sought the 1998 patent after an internal review found that the company did not have a valid claim to the discovery.
The foundation asked Intel in 2001, 2006 and 2007 to pay annual fees in exchange for using the technology but filed the lawsuit after those talks stalled.
BAD HARDWARE: Let me calculate. Billion of Intel processors used the patent illegally. $10 per processor fine means $10B total. Intel payed, though only $90K up to now.
