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Intel Threatens To Revoke AMD's x86 License
theraindog writes "AMD's former manufacturing division opened for business last week as GlobalFoundries, but the spin-off may run afoul of AMD's 2001 cross-licensing agreement with Intel. Indeed, Intel has formally accused AMD of violating the agreement, and threatened to terminate the company's licenses in 60 days if a resolution is not found. Intel contends that GlobalFoundries is not a subsidiary of AMD, and thus is not covered by the licensing agreement. AMD has fired back, insisting that it has done nothing wrong, and that Intel's threat constitutes a violation of the deal. At stake is not only AMD's ability to build processors that use Intel's x86 technology, but also Intel's ability to use AMD's x86-64 tech in its CPUs."
AMD explicitly organized the board structure of GlobalFoundries to try to get around the agreement.
But the ownership structure of AMD means that AMD is no longer in control of the foundries used to make the majority of x86 products.
AMD's response today is also blatantly evasive.
Intel is going to let the courts dismantle AMD.
This is not aggression on Intel's part. AMD signed an agreement and then breached it egregiously.
There's nothing AMD can do to stop that except to agree not to use GlobalFoundries to make x86 chips.
There's nothing AMD fanboys can do to stop it period.
Intel has a lot more to loose then AMD and that's why....
If Intel wins the consumer will lose, if AMD holds its ground....
....make major cutbacks and Intel will loose all sorts of momentum just to save....
At least you got one of them right. 33% is still a failing grade, though.
*Cough*Zune*Cough*