> they are allowed to sell any clean-room designed x86 hardware
Uuuuh, presumably the case was about patents, right? I don't see how cleanroom-ing is fine with regard to patents.
Uuuuh, presumably the case was about patents, right? I don't see how cleanroom-ing is fine with regard to patents.
Summary: Cyrix (and subsequently, VIA) have an implied license to Intel's patents; allowing them to develop x86 hardware.
How that differs from AMD: AMD and Intel have a full cross-license on technologies. This means, AMD can utilize Intel resources to integrate AVX-512, a ring-bus, etc (and vice versa). VIA can not. They must develop those technologies independently, in a compatible manner.
Oddly enough, integrated circuits have their own IP scheme. IP has copyright, patent right, trade secrets, trademarks, and mask works. You rarely learn about mask works, since they're so narrow.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrated_circuit_layout_desi...
I think a lot of this would hinge on that corner of the law.