Like a good novel, the patent infringement trial between Infineon Technologies AG and Rambus Inc. didn't take long to develop a clear, compelling theme. Somebody has been lying, cheating and stealing, lawyers for both sides said in opening arguments yesterday. And when jurors in the U.S. District Court case in Richmond decide who it is, their verdict is expected to reverberate throughout the computer industry. Rambus, a California company, designs memory but does not manufacture it. It employs about 1,800 at a factory in eastern Henrico County.
Memory is a basic component of every personal computer.
The entire company was involved in the attempt to monopolize this industry. It sued several manufacturers. While several cases are pending, this is the first to go to trial. Desmarais said evidence will prove that Rambus filed for patents but later filed for amendments after it discovered what direction memory standards were taking. The case has generated widespread interest from the investing and technology communities.