Rambus: Friend or Foe?
This press release is copyrighted by The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE). Its use is granted only to journalists and news media.
Since its founding 11 years ago, the chip design firm Rambus Inc. has managed to leverage its high-speed computer memory interface into something approaching an industry standard for the dynamic RAM, the most widely used type of computer memory. Now, the small Los Altos, Calif. firm finds itself embroiled in patent infringement disputes with some of the biggest chip makers in the world. The first of these lawsuits is set to begin on 20 April, in Richmond, Va.
Indeed, Rambus has created an industry-wide rift--if not an all-out war--pitting its supporters, most notably Intel, Samsung, Toshiba, and Dell, against the likes of Advanced Micro Devices, Micron, Infineon, and Hyundai Electronics. At issue is what will become of, and who will control, the technical standard underlying the US $29 billion DRAM market. The industry now stands at a crossroads: to go with Rambus' proprietary designs or opt for a more conventional memory scheme developed by an open standards group?
IEEE Spectrum recounts the many technical, business, and legal hurdles the company has surmounted to refine its designs, build industry acceptance, and protect its intellectual property.
Contact: Jean Kumagai, 212 419 7551, [email protected].For faxed copies of the complete article ("Rambus: Friend or Foe?" by Senior Associate Editor Jean Kumagai, IEEE Spectrum, May 2001, pp. 42-47) or to arrange an interview, contact: Nancy T. Hantman, 212 419 7561, [email protected].
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