PC makers to be sued?

Original story here.

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Intergraph has filed suit against Dell Computer, Gateway and Hewlett-Packard, alleging that the PC companies violated its patents by incorporating Pentium-family processors into their computers.

The lawsuit--which could be worth hundreds of millions of dollars and eventually have an impact on every PC maker that used Intel chips in the last seven years--is based on a similar intellectual-property suit launched by Intergraph against Intel that was settled in April this year.

In that case, filed in 1997, Intergraph claimed that Intel's Pentium, Pentium Pro, Pentium II, Pentium III and other processors infringed on patents embodied in its Clipper chip.

Under the settlement, Intel agreed to pay Intergraph $300 million. The deal, however, did not insulate companies that incorporated Intel processors into their computers from suits based on the same patents. The chipmaker is obliged to send a letter to PC makers notifying them of that circumstance, said an Intergraph spokeswoman.

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An interesting situation to say the least. My question is that IF Intergraph is victorious in this litigation also, would the PC makers then be able to turn about and file suit against Intel for exposing them to this "risk" in the first place? For that matter, could this also lead to suits against "beige box" makers who have been using Intel chips for all these years?

"buy the new Dell Dimension 9100 with the latest Intergraph Clipper."

i don't think that would have sold. pentium sounds more like a precious metal, or a fundamental element with the 'ium' at the end...chromium, aluminium, itanium...HAHA...itanium is a processor too. seriously though, in a world of trademarks and logos would the Clipper even have had a chance?

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My question is that IF Intergraph is victorious in this litigation also, would the PC makers then be able to turn about and file suit against Intel for exposing them to this "risk" in the first place?

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i couldn't even begin to imagine how complicated the situation is, however i do imagine teams of lawyers slogging it out in the arena. my point being that it will probably take teams of lawyers many months to answer your question Al, depending on how much money is in it of course. but in my black and white opinion if intel broke the law, they should be made to pay.

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For that matter, could this also lead to suits against "beige box" makers who have been using Intel chips for all these years?

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there are so many of these beige box makers through out the globe that it would cost time and money to take them all through the system. if intergraph are legally entitled to do it, and it is profitable, then i guess that they will.

Well, if they got 300-mil in their last go-round, and those other doors were still left open, then you can bet the corporate lawyers have talked "the board" into going for more, no doubt at all in my book. Truth is, just like (V) said about the marketability of names, Intergraph probably made more with the lawsuit than they did with their sales.

I really can't tell how I should feel about this one. Are they trying to patent the four basic arithmetic procedures or something, or do they just have a beef with Intel for something obscure and not a blatant attempt-to-get-money-by-getting a-generalized-patent-for-stuff-that-already-existed?