Advanced Micro Devices Inc (AMD)

[HailMary]

Intel surpassed AMD in number of patent received in 2003

My theory is that when Intel discovered AMD surpassing them in patents many years back, they decided to step up their patent efforts to reacquire the lead. In a company like this, there are many patents that never get written simply because it isn't worth the time of writing them up, even though they could be granted. So Intel probably told their employees to write more patents, and they did. I don't think this represents a surge of Intel intellectual property, just an increase in filed intellectual property.

There is usually about a 3-4 year delay (sometimes more) from the time of writing new patents to the time they are actually granted, so this would correspond to my theory.

Also - I'm guessing that Intel has always had more quality patents then AMD. AMD is probably filing every last little thing they can imagine, including those that are worthless. Now Intel may be following suit, just to take away AMD's bragging rights.

Just a possibility.