Andrew Warren wrote:
>     Until you receive it, all you can really tell us with any
>     certainty is, "My development kit is on its way, so my
>     development kit is on its way."
True.

> > Speaking of Mchip litigation; I notice that Mchip 'settled' some
> > dispute over the Keeloq technology with Rohm and Excel. Does anybody
> > know who paid who and what it was about?
> 
>     The exact settlement terms weren't disclosed, but Exel (a
>     privately-held subsidiary of Rohm) has "surrendered to Microchip
>     any license rights that it might have had in the KEELOQ
>     technology".
> 
>     In case you don't remember, both Microchip and Exel had licenses
>     to manufacture silicon that implemented the Keeloq technology
>     developed by Nanoteq... And Exel was first to market, in late
>     1995.
Did Mchip pay Exel to give up the license, or did they simply force
them?

> 
>     Microchip bought Nanoteq shortly thereafter, and almost
Whoa! Nanoteq wasn't bought by Microchip! The last time I looked, it was
still right here in South Africa. I suppose Mchip bought the rights?

>     immediately sued Exel (in mid-March 1996) for trademark and
>     copyright infringement and misappropriation of trade secrets.
>     Microchip also sought a preliminary injunction against Exel, but
>     withdrew it after Exel stopped using the "Keeloq" trademark and
>     began using "SureLok" instead.
> 
>     In the two years since the suit was filed, Microchip's Keeloq
>     sales volume has soared while Exel has been more-or-less sucking
>     wind.  Personally, I don't think Exel lost much by settling the
>     suit, and I don't think it'll have much effect on Microchip,
>     either.
I read that they (Exel) said they they were getting out of that line
anyway (yeah, sure).

Thanks for the info.

-- 
Friendly Regards

Tjaart van der Walt
mailto:tjaart@wasp.co.za
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