AMD: Intel "wants us dead"

 

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By Stuart Turton

Posted on 18 Mar 2009 at 09:28

An AMD lawyer has accused Intel of wanting his company "dead", as the licensing spat between the two companies heats up.

Intel is threatening to pull a cross-licensing agreement with AMD, claiming that the proposed spin-off of AMD's manufacturing arm violates the terms of the deal.

AMD's general counsel Harry Wolin has reacted angrily to the move, telling Cnet that he believes Intel is trying to crush its competitor: "In their perfect world, we wouldn't exist. If they had to deal with the government every now and then, that's fine, and they still extracting monopoly profits from the industry."

Responding to claims that AMD is the only thing keeping monopoly watchdogs of Intel's back, Wolin responded: "I don't agree with the premise that they have to have us and they think they have to have us. I think they would absolutely like us dead."

Intel, of course, denies this: "It's nice of them to try to speak for us," responds Intel spokesman Chuck Mulloy.

"AMD has been a competitor for almost 40 years in one form or another. This is not about AMD going away," he said. "This is about our rights and AMD's rights under the patent cross-license agreement."

Intel claims it will pull the cross-licensing pact in the next 60 days unless concerns surrounding AMD's new foundry are addressed.

AMD in turn is threatening further legal action, suggesting a long battle is on the cards.