Via Technologies announced that it has been unable to find evidence
that Intel holds a patent for the disputed 400MHz front-side bus
used with the Pentium 4 processor.
Intel officials have repeatedly hinted at plans to take legal
action against Via in relation to the P4X266, which Via has begun
to ship to motherboard makers in Taiwan.
"We haven't broken any patents," said Richard Brown, Via's director
of marketing. "As far as we know, we haven't infringed any of
Intel's patents."
An Intel spokeswoman declined to comment on the possibility of
legal action over the P4X266 and could not immediately confirm the
patent status of the 400MHz bus.
In addition to the missing patent, Via has previously pointed to a
cross-licensing agreement between S3 Graphics, which is affiliated
with Via and Intel. Via claims the cross-licensing agreement covers
the P4X266. Brown declined to comment on whether the P4X266
contains intellectual property from S3, but Via has plans to
release a further chipset in November, the P4M266, which integrates
a graphics core from S3 with the P4X266.
With the four largest motherboard makers delaying using the P4X266
because of the unresolved licensing issue with Intel, Via is
counting on second-tier motherboard vendors to get the chipset into
the market.
In addition, Via is offering to protect its customers from costs or
damages related to Intel's legal action over the chipset. "We will
indemnify them against any costs should Intel decide to go along
this route," said Brown.