Apple Defends Patent Claims by S3 Graphics Thanks to Timely Help by AMD

[btarunr]

The world of corporate disputes is a funny one. S3 Graphics filed a compliant against Apple for infringing four of its patents related to its graphics IP. Later this year, ITC announced a verdict ruling in favor of S3 Graphics around the same time S3 Graphics was being purchased by HTC. In a spectacular turn of events, on November 21, ITC took a U-turn by overruling the favorable verdict and dismissing S3 Graphics' case.

Commentators note that AMD's intervention into the case as a non-party may have played a key role, AMD claimed the patents in question to be its own, later Apple sought dismissal of the case based on the grounds of AMD's claims. ITC denied AMD and Apple requests to publicly disclose the details of the patents in question, so the the public would't find out what patent claims were used against S3 Graphics. AMD is currently the principal supplier of GPUs for Apple's Mac products, though there are now rumors that with the next generation of Macs, Apple could change its GPU supplier to AMD's rival NVIDIA.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[N-Gen]

This is so confusing it could be a television series.

 

[Completely Bonkers]

AMD is currently the principal supplier of GPUs for Apple's Mac products

...quote says it all. Weak court to throw out a previous decision due to supplier protecting client. AMD ain't no "non-party".

So S3 will have to go back to court... this is a clear case of who has the deepest pockets to pay lawyers the longest, and also an "HTC+S3" vs "Apple+AMD". Somehow, I fall favour on the side of the small boys... but then again... they aint American companies are they? Protectionism or what?!

 

[devguy]

though there are now rumors that with the next generation of Macs, Apple could change its GPU supplier to AMD's rival NVIDIA.

Why's that? I know that rumors said Apple would be using Llano chips in their MacBook Air, but due to a poor GlobalFoundries process, they canned the idea and continued with Intel. Now, with Ivy Bridge graphics appearing to perform pretty well, they'll likely can all discrete graphics on most of their entry level products. But why does that warrant a GPU manufacturer switch for their other products? I don't recall nVidia and Apple being on the best terms after their mobile g92 chips caused quite a lot of warranty stir, which is a big part of why they went AMD exclusive in the first place...?

 

[Deleted member 24505]

I think amd are traitors.

 

[DannibusX]

I think amd are traitors.

I think AMD is just trying to stay in business.

 

[ViperXTR]

television series.

Drama in the Silicon Valley lol

 

[95Viper]

...quote says it all. Weak court to throw out a previous decision due to supplier protecting client. AMD ain't no "non-party".

So S3 will have to go back to court... this is a clear case of who has the deepest pockets to pay lawyers the longest, and also an "HTC+S3" vs "Apple+AMD". Somehow, I fall favour on the side of the small boys... but then again... they aint American companies are they? Protectionism or what?!

Second that.

Sounds, sorta, like AMD is trying to make nice with Apple.

Is AMD slimming down for a date with Apple?

 

[NC37]

Why's that? I know that rumors said Apple would be using Llano chips in their MacBook Air, but due to a poor GlobalFoundries process, they canned the idea and continued with Intel. Now, with Ivy Bridge graphics appearing to perform pretty well, they'll likely can all discrete graphics on most of their entry level products. But why does that warrant a GPU manufacturer switch for their other products? I don't recall nVidia and Apple being on the best terms after their mobile g92 chips caused quite a lot of warranty stir, which is a big part of why they went AMD exclusive in the first place...?

Wasn't all because of GF. The problem was, Apple is CPU centric still. They wanted to dump high end CPUs in their low end machines like everyone else is doing. APU tech, while good on graphics, wasn't there yet. Plus it would have called into question more of their pricing schemes since APUs are rocking the budget segments.

The company that spent so long debunking the Mhz is everything myth is now the same company that couldn't figure out how to sell a Mac that relies more on GPU strength than CPU.

Intel just won out this time because of CPU performance alone.

I imagine Apple will continue with Intel for at least another gen. Then we'll see if Mac people do the same thing they did years ago and complain Apple into getting decent graphics. If AMD had given Trinity tech instead of Llano, I imagine Apple might have used AMD.

I'll still hope for it. But more and more Apple is selling me out of ever buying another Mac. For the Mac apps I still use, I figure I just gotta find similar software on PC side. When I finally do...so long Apple.

 

[Wiselnvestor]

I found the report on 2 out of the 4 patents in S3/Apple litigation.

http://www.tcmagazine.com/tcm/news/misc/40871/s3-graphics-targets-apple-two-more-lawsuits


The patents in question are:

- No. 5,945,997 entitled "block- and band-oriented traversal in three-dimensional triangle rendering"

- No. 5,581,279 entitled "VGA controller circuitry"


If Apple gotten hold to some of AMD's patents , Apple's legal team could do some serious damage...

 

[btarunr]

Second that.

Sounds, sorta, like AMD is trying to make nice with Apple

Sadly for AMD, that's futile. It's almost confirmed that Ivy Bridge-based Macs and Macbooks will use NVIDIA GPUs.

 

[devguy]

Digging more into this issue, there doesn't seem to be any confirmation of why such a switch, especially after Apple's "Never Again" comments towards nVidia. The only thing that sort of makes sense, is that Apple intends to still use low-end/lower middle-end GPUs in their laptops with discrete graphics, and AMD seems to no longer be putting resources into developing those. For AMD, their upcoming models in that category are going to be rebranded 40nm parts, with all their R&D going into the APU and higher-end parts instead. nVidia, on the other hand, are likely to still bring updated low-end 28nm parts to market (but just a guess, no confirmation on that).

That or Cook doesn't have the same vendetta issues that Jobs had toward nVidia/Adobe before he passed, and nVidia said we'd do it for a ton less than what you'd pay AMD.

 

[Casecutter]

Ivy Bridge-based Macs and Macbooks will use NVIDIA GPUs.

So that necessitates more real estate, BTU, and power for less performance. Sounds like Mac will need be working hard to do miracles.

 

[N-Gen]

Drama in the Silicon Valley lol

You sir, have a brilliant series idea.