TSMC and GlobalFoundries resolve patent disputes

Apple supplier Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company and rival GlobalFoundries have resolved a patent dispute after agreeing to cross-license their technologies.

TSMC, the world’s largest contract chipmaker, said in a joint statement with the California-based company that the pair have agreed to cross-license each other’s existing worldwide semiconductor patents as well as those filed within the next 10 years.

The truce comes after GlobalFoundries filed 25 patent infringements lawsuits against TSMC seeking an injunction to ban the import of iPhones and some other Apple products into the US and Germany. Earlier this month, TSMC responded by filing complaints in three countries against GlobalFoundries, claiming it was “ready for battle in the courts”.

“The resolution is a positive development that keeps our focus on advancing the needs of our customers for technologies that will continue to bring innovation to life, enabling the entire semiconductor industry to thrive and prosper,” said Sylvia Fang, TSMC’s general counsel.

Thomas Caulfield, chief executive of GlobalFoundries, said the company was “pleased to have quickly reached this settlement”.

Source：www.ft.com

Editor：Vapor