Insolvent Qimonda launches IP licensing group

MUNICH, Germany — Insolvent memory chip manufacturer Qimonda has established a company dedicated to the company's semiconductor license business. On the block is what insolvency administrator Michal Jaff calls one of the world's largest semiconductor-related patent portfolios.

Qimonda Licensing LLC will be headquartered in Ft. Lauderdale, (Florida). One of the company's directors is Brian Prather who already has overseen Qimonda's licensing business. The unit will exploit Qimonda's worldwide patent portfolio. According to sources close to the insolvent DRAM manufacturer it has been regarded as necessary to launch such a company in the US instead of Asia though in Asia more DRAM vendors are located. The reason is that the USA is seen as the world's largest IP market. In addition, it played a role that Prather is well established and networked in this part of the world.

In August, Qimonda has already sold licenses related to graphic memory to Winbond and Elpida. The company's buried wordline technology, regarded by experts as Qimonda's probably most valuable IP asset, has yet to be sold.

Existing licensing agreements are not affected by the exploitation process. However, the company will try to find new licensees or buyers for licenses whose expiration is imminent. The company is interested both in selling and licensing IP, the source said. A timeline until which the sales will have to be wound up does not exist.

The move follows a related agreement of the creditor's meeting from past week.

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