NVIDIA keeps jabbing Intel with cartoons

As a part of its lawsuit against Intel filed last week, the Federal Trade Commission proposed a wish list of things it would like to see happen if its case is proved. We noticed something interesting regarding the x86 licensing:

The relief measure No. 17 reads:

Requiring Intel to make available technology (including whatever is necessary to interoperate with Intel’s CPUs or chipsets) to others, via licensing or other means, upon such terms and conditions as the Commission may order, including but not limited to extensions of terms of current licenses.

This would probably open the door for NVIDIA to obtain a x86 license from Intel, and pave the way for a chip war which we’ve yet to encounter.

Relief measure No. 18:

Prohibiting Intel from including or enforcing terms in its x86 licensing agreements that restrict the ability of licensees to change ownership, to obtain investments or financing, to outsource production of x86 microprocessors, or to otherwise partner with third parties to expand output.

However, making an x86 chip would not be easy for NVIDIA. It usually takes about four years and nearly $1 billion to get it really started. Although rumors have been circulating around the internet that NVIDIA is secretly developing x86 chips, but the company has denied the rumors.

The long-term fight has just begun, and if FTC wins major win, then the lawsuit is very likely to completely transform the industry just as Jen-Hsun Huang predicted.