GlobalFoundries Sues IBM Over Sharing Leading-Edge Chip IP with Intel, Rapidus
The relationship between GlobalFoundries and IBM has been rocky over the years. Among other things, Big Blue previously sued his GF, seeking damages for abruptly halting development of cutting-edge process technology in 2018, disrupting IBM’s server CPU plans. On Wednesday, GlobalFoundries hit back, accusing IBM of processing GlobalFoundries’ IP related to chip manufacturing to Intel and Rapidus as part of its ongoing partnerships with these companies to develop cutting-edge chip technology. Did. As part of the filing, GlobalFoundries also accused IBM of poaching engineers.
In its lawsuit, GlobalFoundries alleges that IBM unlawfully disclosed IP and trade secrets to Intel and Japan’s Rapidus, a cutting-edge logic foundry newly formed with the backing of major Japanese companies. I’m here. The chip contract maker claims to own his IP in question after he acquired IBM’s microelectronics business in 2015 and received $1.5 billion, “substantial intellectual propertyAt the time, the companies announced that as part of the deal, GloFo would have direct access to IBM’s continued investment in world-class semiconductor research,Path to advanced process geometries beyond 10nm.’
GF’s allegations point to the fact that IBM management portrayed its partnership with Intel and Rapidus as based on technology derived from decades of research conducted at SUNY Polytechnic Institute’s NanoTech Complex in Albany, N.Y. It is based on. These technologies were actually developed by IBM’s microelectronics division, which was taken over by GlobalFoundries in 2015. GlobalFoundries now claims that IBM may have unfairly earned hundreds of millions of dollars in licensing revenue and other benefits by sharing this IP.
IBM is partnering with Intel.”Advancing Next-Generation Logic and Package Technologyis a vague description of the collaboration. Still, next-generation logic technologies include gate-all-around (GAA), complementary field-effect transistors (CFETs), and technologies that rely on sub-1 nm production nodes. As far as Rapidus is concerned, IBM further states:Rapidus develops IBM’s breakthrough 2nm node technology for implementation in Japanese factories‘By 2027.
Inside GlobalFoundries Fab 8 in Saratoga County, New York, USA
There is another problem with the semiconductor IP that IBM has. The company led the Common Platform Alliance (known as IBM’s Fab Club) that dates back decades. Over the years, several companies have joined his CPA, including AMD, GlobalFoundries, ST Microelectronics, and Samsung. For example, IBM, GlobalFoundries, and Samsung, in 2017 he demonstrated an experimental 5 nm node relying on GAA transistors. This gives an idea of the progress made there. GlobalFoundries does not appear to accuse IBM of sharing IP acquired in joint projects with GF and Samsung.
Another issue GlobalFoundries raises is that IBM is aggressively hiring engineers from Fab 8 in New York. These efforts have been strengthened since his IBM/Rapidus announcement in December 2022. .
IBM responded to the allegations by stating that GlobalFoundries’ claims are baseless and that the lawsuit is ongoing over GF’s breach of contract to provide IBM with cutting-edge process technology to manufacture CPUs by 2025. It states that it is an attempt to influence legal disputes in China. Initial plans from 2015 went off track in 2018 when GlobalFoundries suddenly changed its roadmap, choosing instead to refocus on its expertise. IBM said he will sue his gf in 2021, demanding $2.5 billion in compensation.
“Their allegations are completely baseless and we are confident the court will agree,” IBM said in a statement. Reuters.
