Nvidia Develops New Location-Verification Technology for AI Chips 
Biren Technology Targets Hong Kong IPO to Raise $300 Million Amid China’s AI Chip Push 
Apple Explores India for iPhone Chip Assembly as Manufacturing Push Accelerates 
Coca-Cola’s Costa Coffee Sale Faces Uncertainty as Talks With TDR Capital Hit Snag 
U.S. Lifts Sanctions on Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Amid Shift in Brazil Relations 
Environmental Group Sues to Block Trump Image on U.S. National Park Passes 
iRobot Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Amid Rising Competition and Tariff Pressures 
EU Signals Major Shift on 2035 Combustion Engine Ban Amid Auto Industry Pressure 
Trump Sues BBC for Defamation Over Edited Capitol Riot Speech Clip 
Nomura Expands Alternative Assets Strategy With Focus on Private Debt Acquisitions 
Strategy Retains Nasdaq 100 Spot Amid Growing Scrutiny of Bitcoin Treasury Model 
Microsoft Unveils Massive Global AI Investments, Prioritizing India’s Rapidly Growing Digital Market 
MetaX IPO Soars as China’s AI Chip Stocks Ignite Investor Frenzy 
US Charges Two Men in Alleged Nvidia Chip Smuggling Scheme to China 
Colombia’s Clan del Golfo Peace Talks Signal Mandatory Prison Sentences for Top Leaders 
Apple App Store Injunction Largely Upheld as Appeals Court Rules on Epic Games Case 
SoftBank Shares Slide as Oracle’s AI Spending Plans Fuel Market Jitters 
A U.S. appeals court overturned a $2.18 billion patent-infringement award that patent owner VLSI Technology had won against Intel Corp. This ruling marks the reversal of one of the largest verdicts in the history of U.S. patent law.
Reuters reported that the U.S. Court of Appeals made the decision reached on Monday for the Federal Circuit, which cited insufficient evidence and mandated a new trial.
Insufficient Evidence for One Patent Infringement
The Federal Circuit ruled that the jury had insufficient evidence to support their finding that Intel infringed on one of the two patents. This patent was responsible for $675 million of the initial verdict, which has now been overturned.
However, the appeals court affirmed that Intel had indeed infringed another VLSI patent. The court acknowledged problems with the damages analysis and ordered a new trial to determine the appropriate award. Previously, the jury had awarded VLSI $1.5 billion for Intel's infringement of this specific patent.
A New Trial Ordered
The jury's initial 2021 verdict, which found Intel guilty of infringing one of VLSI's patents, has been overturned. The case has been sent back to Texas for a fresh trial to determine the amount of damages Intel owes for infringing a second VLSI patent.
BNN noted that this ruling could have significant implications for the ongoing litigation between VLSI and Intel in multiple U.S. courts, where VLSI has accused Intel of infringing several patents related to semiconductor technology.
VLSI, a patent holding company, is owned by investment funds managed by Fortress Investment Group. Abu Dhabi's Mubadala Investment Co took a majority share of Fortress this year.
Intel successfully defeated VLSI's bid for over $3 billion in damages in another trial held in Waco, Texas, later in 2021. Additionally, a separate jury in Austin, Texas, awarded VLSI nearly $949 million from Intel in a third patent case last year. It is worth noting that the companies have also reached agreements to dismiss other potential multi-billion-dollar cases.
As news of the overturning of the award spread, Intel's stock tumbled over 4% on Monday morning. Other major chipmakers also experienced declines. These market reactions highlight the significance of this case within the semiconductor industry.
While this ruling paves the way for a new trial in Texas, another trial is set to commence in Northern California in 2024. These legal battles underscore the importance of patent rights and their implications for the semiconductor industry's future.
