ST, Rambus sign cross licenses, settle lawsuits
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STMicroelectronics has signed an agreement with Rambus that expands existing licenses between the two companies and settles all outstanding claims. The deal is also said to commits both organisations to explore additional opportunities for collaboration.
Rambus took legal action against ST and five other companies in 2010, alleging infringement of a number of its patents. In its depositions, it alleged that 'semiconductor products with certain memory controllers and/or serial links infringe certain Rambus patents'.
Under the agreement, Rambus will have access to ST's fully depleted silicon on insulator (FD-SOI) process technology design environment, while ST has licensed Differential Power Analysis countermeasures and CryptoFirewall core security technology from Rambus subsidiary Cryptography Research. This move is said to further strengthen the security robustness of ST's set top box chips and multimedia gateways. The agreement also covers ST's use of Rambus' patented memory interface and serial link innovations.
"This agreement with Rambus is an exceptional win-win-win for both parties, as they can now share and use more broadly important technologies that have great value to us, the industry and our customers," said Gian Luca Bertino, executive vice president of ST's digital convergence group.
