FTC Dismisses Suit Against Rambus

Online staff -- Electronic News, 2/18/2004

At least one legal drama for Rambus Inc. has ended.

The company has announced that the suit brought by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) against it has been dismissed in its entirety.

The ruling came Tuesday from Judge Stephen J. McGuire, the FTC's chief administrative law judge presiding over the case, Rambus said, adding that a 330-page initial decision explaining the ruling is expected to be issued to the public on Feb. 23.

"[The] ruling dismissing the FTC case is a fundamentally important step for Rambus as we seek to be fairly compensated for the use of our intellectual property," said John Danforth, senior VP and general counsel for Rambus, in a statement. "The ruling adds to the powerful reasoning favoring Rambus that the Federal Circuit issued in January 2003. It is now time, we believe, for these issues to be set aside, and for Rambus patent claims to be resolved on their merits."

The FTC brought anti-trust charges against Rambus in June 2002. A three-month hearing was held in the summer of 2003.