Dutch PC maker Tulip Computers has decided to sue mighty Dell over an alleged $17 billion patent infringement.

Tulip reckons the Texas PC giant copied its patented technology for motherboards, and filed papers on Friday at the US District Court in Delaware.

The Rosmalen, Netherlands-based company nabbed the patent for a "Motherboard for a computer of the AT type, and a computer of the AT type comprising such motherboard" three years ago.

It now wants damages from Dell based on all the allegedly patent infringing computers its rival has sold since 1997. Tulip, owner of the Commodore brand, reckons Dell has sold $17 billion worth of such products - a figure equivalent to more than two thirds of Dell's sales last year.

On 9 November Dell hit revised financial estimates, making $674 million profit on revenues of $8.26 billion for the third quarter alone. In the same week Tulip warned it expected to close its current full financial year with an operational loss of E9.5 million ($8 million). ®

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