Intergraph patent case thrown out

A federal judge has tossed out Intergraph Corp.'s patent-infringement claims against Intel, originally brought as part of an antitrust case targeting the chip giant.

The surprise ruling found that National Semiconductor actually controlled the disputed patents, giving Intel the right to use them as part of a 1976 licensing agreement between the two companies.

The ruling is a reversal of an order the judge signed in June, in which he said Intel had no rights to the technology.

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