Replies to post #22898 on Advanced Micro Devices Inc (AMD)

[dougSF30]

I wonder if this will be accompanied by similar dramatic reversals in P/E ratios and market caps? One can always hope.

Doug

[SemiconEng]

For the previous four years, AMD outpaced Intel in receipts, so its interesting that such a dramatic reversal has taken place.


---More than dramatic. You'd almost think that they had a New Process or something. :-) I would guess, that intel must be doing quite a few things, quite a bit differently, in 90nm over 130nm, no? Doesn't give me the impression of a Dumb Shrink.

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By the way, message for any "Newbies" around, this is one of those little pieces of data I was talking about, the ones that I put together into the bigger picture? Just thought I'd let you know, just in case you couldn't figure it out. No need to thank me for the heads up. Back to our regularly scheduled programming.
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Intel increased their number by 48% over 2002, becoming one of the top 10 organizations receiving US patents. Without seeing the list beyond the top, I suspect that AMD didn't drop significantly (perhaps they increased as well), but it appears that Intel has really stepped up in their filings.


---In any case, I don't see AMD in the top 10. I can't recall who it was on the other threads crowing about the number of AMD patents over intel. I'm guessing we won't be hearing too much crowing about patents this year though.

Semi

[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.