https://www.kitguru.net/components/matthew-wilson/global-foundries-files-lawsuit-against-tsmc-and-its-customers-over-patent-infringement/
 
This week has started off with a bang, as chipmaker Global Foundries has filed lawsuits against TSMC for infringing on 16 patents and is seeking to stop the importing of infringing chips used by the likes of Apple, Nvidia, ASUS, Google and more. There are 20 defendants named in the lawsuits, which target products sold in the US and Germany specifically. TSMC creates chips for many high-profile tech companies, with 20 of them named in the lawsuit due to their use of TSMC-manufactured chips. The full list of defendants includes: TSMC, Apple, Broadcom, Mediatek, Nvidia, Qualcomm, Xilinx, Avnet/EBV, Digi-key, Mouser, Arista, ASUS, BLU, Cisco, Google, HiSense, Lenovo, Motorola, TCL and OnePlus. 
 
Well this should be an interesting lawsuit. 

MadmanRB
I hate to sound like i am defending the likes of Apple, Google, Nvidia and Broadcom, but this seems like patent trolling.

From what I understand GF tried in good faith to license the tech and were unsuccessful. Lawsuits normally follow. 

https://venturebeat.com/2019/08/26/globalfoundries-sues-apple-nvidia-qualcomm-and-tsmc-over-chip-patents/amp/

According to Globalfoundries, “TSMC has been unlawfully reaping the benefits of our investments” in U.S. and European semiconductor manufacturing by utilizing Globalfoundries technologies in Asian factories. “This action is critical to halt Taiwan Semiconductor’s unlawful use of our vital assets,” Globalfoundries engineering SVP Gregg Bartlett explained

Then

Globalfoundries dropped out of the race to manufacture tiny 7-nanometer chips last year, effectively ceding the market for ever-smaller processors to Asian rivals TSMC and Samsung

When you can no longer compete... sue...

It’s the American / Millennial way... we are so [you know what]

It would be the height of irony if a supposedly nationalist America pushed the descendants of Chiang Kai-shek into the arms of Maoist China (but I digress...)

That's irrelevant if there was any wrong doing.
 
Are you from the states?  Just wondering.

Born and raised. Anglo as it gets with ancestors going back to the 1850’s from Germany and Scotland.

I’m also 50 years old and know a bit of history...

Brad_Hawthorne
Eh, it's just leveraging the stereotype that all Asian companies steal their IP. Maybe they did, maybe they didn't. Makes GloFo look like a poor loser in the court of public opinion though. Sorta surprised they're not also suing Samsung and a few others too.

They should if they have proof.  I don't think they would go on a limp here with no evidence.  I think it would be silly if they did plus it comes from an area apart of the world where stolen IPs are the norm.

You showed it to them, they took it and used it for profit. Guess who the idiot is!!!

kougar
I know zero facts behind the case. But it's the timing that smells fishy. Why are they suing now, after GloFo is winding down its businesses?
 
GloFo halted research into 7nm last year, they are done. In the last two years Glofo has sold off multiple 200mm and 300mm fabs including their new New York facility. They have divested themselves of smaller business entities, sold off fabrication assets from their fabs to other firms, and transferred engineers and IP licenses to other companies as parts of these Fab sales. A company doesn't cancel future R&D and sell off its core business assets unless they are done. So why are they only NOW filing infringement lawsuits... 

That’s a rhetorical question, right? They obviously want to join in on the NPE (see: Patent Troll) party

Cool GTX
If they prove patent infringement --> they can also Show losses they suffered --> for punitive damages - No ?

Sure, but winning doesn't mean it's a valid lawsuit. That's just gambling hoping for a score.  Look at Rambus, they used the threat of suits to force companies to sign licenses since that would've been cheaper than fighting via litigation. 
 
If they win the Emirate of Abu Dhab (who owns GloFo's parent company) would just pocket the money, GloFo now seems to be focusing on smaller IC fabrication at this point using mostly 200nm fabs on old nodes. 

TSMC States Its 37,000 Patents Sufficient To Void GlobalFoundries’ Claims
 
In its last statement, TSMC said that it was ”disappointed’ by a fab that it considers as a peer. The company also stated that it will use all legal means to fight to protect its ”proprietary technologies”. Now, the Taiwanese fab is out with another statement.
As reported by CNbeta, TSMC is stating that all technologies that GF alleges infringement up, the Taiwanese fab has developed itself. According to TSMC, it’s got the world’s largest semiconductor patent IP portfolio, with more than 37,000 patents under its belt. Additionally, the fab also highlights the fact that it’s been the US’ top 10 patent inventor since 2016 to boost its claims of having developed technology unrelated to GlobalFoundries’ IP.
 
https://wccftech.com/tsmc-patents-itc-globalfoundries/

Dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb.

TSMC Lands a Counterpunch to the Lawsuit by GlobalFoundries
 
The Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) (TPE:2330) – the world’s largest contract chipmaker – has filed multiple countersuits in the U.S., Germany, and Singapore against the American semiconductor fabricator – GlobalFoundries – for infringing on its patents pertaining to the photolithography processes. The company asserted that it is “ready for battle in the courts” and that it will seek “substantial monetary damages” for violations of its intellectual property though it did not disclose the precise quantum of damages being sought.
 
In its lawsuit, TSMC has asserted that the American semiconductor fabricator infringed on its 25 patents pertaining to the 40 nanometer (nm), 28nm, 22nm, 14nm, and 12nm node processes – the photolithography methods that are used in the manufacturing of chips. Moreover, the company has asked the courts to prevent GlobalFoundries from producing and selling semiconductors that incorporate the identified patent violations. Given the wide scope of the complaints, should TSMC emerge victorious in its lawsuits, almost all of the production lines of GlobalFoundries will be severely impacted.
 
https://wccftech.com/tsmc-lands-a-counterpunch-to-the-lawsuit-by-globalfoundries/
 
 

ty_ger07
Dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb.

 
That is an understatement....lol
 
GF is dead
 
They should have kept their mouths shut