Technology licensing company Adeia (ADEA.O) initiated two lawsuits against Advanced Micro Devices (AMD.O) on Monday in a Texas federal court. Adeia claims that AMD has infringed 10 of its semiconductor-related patents.
The lawsuits specifically allege that several models of AMD processors, found in desktops, laptops, and servers, unlawfully use Adeia’s patented inventions for better semiconductor manufacturing.
Paul Davis, CEO of Adeia, stated that AMD’s use of their technology significantly contributed to AMD’s success as a market leader. Davis also mentioned that Adeia remains open to a “fair and reasonable arrangement that reflects the value of our intellectual property.” This suggests that Adeia prefers a licensing agreement to a prolonged court battle if the terms are met.
AMD, based in Santa Clara, California, is one of the largest semiconductor companies in the United States. Just last week, AMD secured a deal with the U.S. government to build two artificial-intelligence-powered supercomputers. These supercomputers aim to advance U.S. research and development efforts.
Adeia, headquartered in San Jose, California, was formerly Xperi’s intellectual property licensing arm, the owner of TiVo. In 2022, Xperi spun off Adeia into an independent company. In its complaint, Adeia emphasized that its predecessor, Tessera, pioneered crucial semiconductor manufacturing technologies like hybrid bonding and advanced process nodes.
The lawsuit asserts that AMD processors featuring “3D V-Cache” technology, including some of their AI chips, were manufactured using Adeia’s patented methods without permission. Adeia is seeking an unspecified amount in damages. Additionally, the company has asked the court to issue an order that would stop AMD from using its patented technology moving forward. This legal action could have significant implications for both companies and the broader semiconductor industry.
