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Mobo makers wavering over Intel-Via lawsuit
But Via-UMC deal may allow them to snap up Cyrix
Taiwanese title Eurotrade is reporting that both Gigabyte and Asus may delay PC-133 motherboards because of litigation between Intel and chipset manufacturer Via. The magazine quotes a senior executive of Via as saying that the company will continue shipping its chipsets, confident its existing patent will cover alleged infringement of an Intel Slot One patent. The same source says that Via is attempting to raise $NT 10 billion to acquire Cyrix, possibly in cooperation with Taiwanese foundry United Microelectronics Corp (UMC). The report adds that despite Via's bullishness, it may find itself in trouble because 50 per cent of its revenues are accounted for by its relationship with Intel. However, another wire claims that Via will press ahead with its plans, and is protected by its existing licences with National Semiconductor, with litigation taking up to two years to come to a head. Brian Halla, CEO of National Semiconductor, said earlier this year that if a deal had not been struck by today, he would shut Cyrix... ®