Intel sues Via customers

Intel's legal war against Via Technologies has expanded to include not only the Taiwanese chipset maker but also companies that use certain Via products.

The Santa Clara, Ca. chipmaker has filed suit against Via partner First International Computer and computer maker Everex for alleged patent violations.

The dispute began last June, when Intel sued Via for violating a licensing agreement after Via began promoting a faster, 133-MHz system bus chipset, sources have said. Via contends Intel merely wants to stem the growing popularity of Via's chipsets for Celeron and Pentium III computers.

Interestingly, the new lawsuits do not target Via's major customers, which include IBM, Hewlett-Packard, and Micron Electronics.

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