Magma, Synopsys narrow Delaware patent case
By Ann Steffora Mutschler -- EDN, February 21, 2007
Lawsuit embroiled semiconductor design tool suppliers Magma Design Automation Inc. and Synopsys Inc. said today they have entered into a joint stipulation which focuses the scope of their Delaware patent lawsuit.
At the same time, the stipulation leaves in place Magma’s assertions that its patents are being infringed by key Synopsys products, including Astro, Design Compiler, IC Compiler, Physical Compiler and PrimeTime.
The companies' joint stipulation, entered in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, leaves unaffected Magma's assertion that these and other Synopsys products infringe four Magma patents: U.S. Patents 6,505,328, 6,519,745, 6,854,093 and 6,857,116.
Also remaining at issue is Synopsys' assertion that Magma infringes one Synopsys patent, U.S. Patent 6,192,508.
The companies jointly stipulated that first, Synopsys will withdraw infringement claims against Magma with regard to two of the three Synopsys patents at issue. Second, Magma stipulated that it will withdraw infringement claims against Synopsys with regard to one Magma patent at issue. Third, Magma said it will withdraw claims of antitrust violation by Synopsys.
The joint stipulation is subject to court approval.
Separately, Synopsys noted that it is Magma that requested the Court dismiss all antitrust claims against Synopsys.
In return, Synopsys explained the stipulation also means it agrees not to pursue Magma for malicious prosecution or any other claims related to making anti-competitive accusations against Synopsys.
The Court has been asked to dismiss all of these claims 'with prejudice,' meaning they cannot be revived.
Synopsys’ general counsel Brian Cabrera said the company is pleased that in addition to recently being ordered to sign over ownership in a number of patents and patent applications in the California patent suit between the companies, Magma is dropping all claims of antitrust in the Delaware action. “We remain committed to pursuing the protection of our valuable intellectual property rights and to defending the spirit of technological innovation,” he said.
In addition, the parties have agreed to formally dismiss three patents previously withdrawn from the case by the parties: the '610 Patent Magma had asserted as well as the '733 and '501 Patents that Synopsys had donated to the public domain.
With the formal dismissal of all antitrust claims and the withdrawal of these patents in the Delaware action, five patent claims will remain, with the trial to review these claims scheduled for June, Synopsys added. In early January, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ordered Magma to immediately withdraw its claim of ownership on two patents at the heart of the ongoing litigation between the EDA tool provider and its larger rival Synopsys Inc.
