NVIDIA Faces Challenges: Qualcomm, Google, and Microsoft Protest Arm Acquisition

[AleksandarK]

In September of last year, NVIDIA has officially announced that the current industry rumor about its big acquisition was true. The company has announced that it is acquiring Arm Limited from the Softbank Group. Paying as much as $40 billion for the purchase, NVIDIA is gaining access to the complete company, along with its extensive portfolio of IP and knowledge. That means that NVIDIA is not essentially a holder of the Arm ISA, which is the most dominant ISA within mobile processors. Such a deal, however, is a bit hard to process without some troubles popping up along the way. As Arm held a neutral position as IP provider, NVIDIA is expected to remain as such, and the company even promised to stay true to that.

However, not everything is going as planned. Before completing the acquisition process, NVIDIA must first comply with regulators from all around the world, including the US, UK, EU, and China. If any objections raise within those regions, they are to be interrogated. Today, Google, Microsoft, and Qualcomm have objected that NVIDIA's Arm acquisition is hurting the market and are urging antitrust officials to intervene. Mentioned companies believe that NVIDIA's move is hurting the market and the company could limit its competitors from accessing the IP, thus breaking Arm's neutral position as an IP provider. NVIDIA has made statements that Arm will remain in such a position, however, the skepticism of the mentioned companies is slowing the merger. Now all that remains is to see how the conflicted companies solve their worries.


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[ThrashZone]

If any objections raise within those regions, they are to be interrogated.

Hi,
Funny way to say it KGB around still

 

[Steevo]

Isn't arm licensing AMD RDNA IP? Isn't that a conflict of interest?

 

[AnarchoPrimitiv]

Only a fool would trust a corporation and believe their promise, they only do what's in their best interest and the interest of their shareholders. If it becomes in Nvidia's best interest to NOT be neutral, that's exactly what they'll do.... This acquisition should NOT be allowed and I really cannot imagine an argument in favor of this acquisition from the point of view of either the industry as a whole or the consumer.

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

That means that NVIDIA is not essentially a holder of the Arm ISA

shouldnt that be NOW?

 

[InVasMani]

Worst episode ever.

 

[Nater]

Google and Microsoft upset that they're going to hurt the market?

Absolutely laughable.

 

[kapone32]

Only a fool would trust a corporation and believe their promise, they only do what's in their best interest and the interest of their shareholders. If it becomes in Nvidia's best interest to NOT be neutral, that's exactly what they'll do.... This acquisition should NOT be allowed and I really cannot imagine an argument in favor of this acquisition from the point of view of either the industry as a whole or the consumer.

especially Ngreedia

 

[claes]

I’ve been wondering how Apple feels about all of this, especially given their in-and-out relationship with nvidia.

 

[biffzinker]

Isn't arm licensing AMD RDNA IP? Isn't that a conflict of interest?

Samsung is licensing AMD's RDNA IP for their Exynos SoC.

 

[Wirko]

Complaining so late in the process, is this a tactical move? Can we expect Apple, Samsung, UK government and others to step in even later?

 

[windwhirl]

Complaining so late in the process, is this a tactical move? Can we expect Apple, Samsung, UK government and others to step in even later?

The acquisition process barely started. It won't go through unless regulators approve.

Google and Microsoft upset that they're going to hurt the market?

Absolutely laughable.

"If I can't monopolize shit, then no one else will!" [insert evil mad cackles here]

 

[Minus Infinity]

Good, this acquisition should not be allowed to go ahead. I doubt China will approve it either and I don't think the UK are too keen.

 

[renz496]

Isn't arm licensing AMD RDNA IP? Isn't that a conflict of interest?

That was samsung. ARM have their own GPU IP.

 

[watzupken]

Nvidia should have seen this coming. The acquistion will not go through without a lot of hoops and loops that they will need to jump across. When Qualcomm started to object to it, you can be sure others will step forward to do the same. Anyone using ARM IP will not be happy with this acquistion because it likely means they have to look elsewhere instead of relying on Nvidia/ARM technology.

 

[z1n0x]

Good, this deal shouldn't go through period.
I do wonder however, if this whole deal is just a tactic to raise ARM's brand at a time, when chipzilla is struggling and it's x86 baby is particularly vulnerabley on the power efficiency front.
I just can't believe, Nvidia seriously thought this deal would go through, while there are so many interested parties involved with ARM's IP.