Intel worried patents hurt by AMD split

Intel today said it was concerned its patents might be at risk as a result of AMD's manufacturing split. The former company licenses its x86 chip architecture and other key technologies to AMD and has "serious questions" about whether those licenses will be honored if AMD's division into design and manufacturing companies is approved, according to Intel spokesman Chuck Mulloy.

The Core processor designer adds that it has pressed AMD to make the exact terms of the deal public to determine how the licenses will be affected, but that AMD to date has refused and prevents either company from discussing potential conflicts in public.

AMD hasn't yet responded to Intel's concerns, though its split doesn't involve any changes to the former's remaining businesses, which depend the most on the x86 licenses to design its Athlon, Geode, Opteron, Phenom and Turion processors as well as their reference mainboard chipsets.

Filed under: computers, industry
Other story tags: Intel, AMD, Phenom, Turion, Athlon, Opteron, Geode, The Foundry Company