AMD initiates lawsuit against MediaTek for illegal use of graphics technologies

Even though MediaTek is relatively new to the mobile SoC market, the Taiwanese company managed to make a name for itself with quite efficient and affordable chips that are mostly targeting the entry-level and mid-range sectors. However, in its zeal, MediaTek may have stepped on a few toes here and there, apparently infringing some of AMD's graphics-related patents.

The legal problems were reported as early as 2017, when AMD noticed patent infringements coming from companies like LG, Vizio and Sigma Designs, which were integrating MediaTek’s Helio P10 SoC in consumer devices such as smartphones, smart TVs and smart TV boxes. AMD claims that the infringements are related to its unified shaders, GPU architecture and parallel pipeline graphics systems. Samsung and GlobalFoundries also used these patents, but AMD acknowledged that these two companies also paid for the license. All complaints were filed with the United States International Trade Commission, which later on ruled in AMD’s favor.

Meanwhile, OEMs like LG and Vizio managed to settle the cases out of court, but it looks like MediaTek could not reach any such agreement and is now dragged into court to answer for its infringements. According to Bloomberg, AMD is looking to obtain cash compensation for past, present and future infringements, and it is also aiming at blocking any future infringements.

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