Taipei, Taiwan, 10 September 2001 – VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator and developer of core logic chipsets, microprocessors, and multimedia and communications chips, today announced that it has begun filing lawsuits against Intel Corporation in US and Taiwan courts for the infringement of VIA patents by Intel processors and chipsets. Separately, VIA has initiated litigation against Intel for violations of the Republic of China Fair Trade Law and the willful destruction of VIA property by Intel representatives and employees. As part of these complaints, VIA is seeking damages for losses incurred and for injunctive relief.
“Intel processors and the Intel Pentium 4 processor compatible 845 chipset infringe VIA’s patents,” commented Richard Brown, Director of Marketing, VIA Technologies, Inc. “Starting today, VIA will begin filing a series of patent infringement lawsuits and civil actions in the Taiwan and US courts seeking damages and injunctive relief.
“Intel has not obtained a license from VIA for the Pentium 4 microprocessor or the 845 chipset,” continued Richard Brown. “The lawsuits will be aimed at stopping the infringement of VIA’s patents by these products,” he said. VIA will file a lawsuit in U.S. District Court against Intel and its Pentium 4 microprocessor.VIA Technologies, Inc has also filed a complaint to the Taiwan Fair Trade Commission against the illegal anti-competitive behaviour employed by Intel in attempting to prevent the smooth introduction of VIA’s Intel Pentium 4 processor compatible chipsets into the market. In addition, VIA is filing criminal suits over the willful destruction of VIA property by Intel representatives and employees at the Computex 2001 tradeshow held in Taipei in June 2001.
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