AMD Says Intel Suit on MMX is Without Merit

Business Wire, March 14, 1997

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 14, 1997--A lawsuit filed today in federal court in Delaware by Intel Corporation claiming trademark rights to the term "MMX" is without merit and poses no threat to delay shipments of the forthcoming AMD-K6 MMX processor, according to the company.

Thomas McCoy, general counsel for AMD, said that Intel's claim of trademark rights to MMX, a term that is the generic acronym for "multimedia extensions," is the issue in the litigation. "We believe the term MMX belongs to the public domain, and we expect to prevail when the matter goes to trial," said McCoy.

On April 2 AMD plans to announce its new, sixth-generation Microsoft Windows-compatible microprocessor that will compete with Intel's Pentium Pro and forthcoming Pentium II microprocessors.

"This case is really about advertising and marketing, which no doubt explains the timing of Intel's lawsuit, right before AMD's scheduled product launch," said McCoy. "There is no dispute about product intellectual property or technology rights. AMD has all intellectual property rights necessary to produce and sell microprocessors fully compatible with the x86 instruction set, including the MMX instructions. As a result, the suit poses no risk to AMD that it will have to delay shipment of AMD-K6 processors or subsequently recall these products," McCoy concluded.

About AMD

AMD is a global supplier of integrated circuits for the personal and networked computer and communications markets. AMD produces processors, flash memories, programmable logic devices, and products for communications and networking applications. Founded in 1969 and based in Sunnyvale, AMD had revenues of $2 billion in 1996. (NYSE:AMD). -0-

World Wide Web: Press announcements and other information about AMD are available on the Internet via the World Wide Web. Type http://www.amd.com at the URL prompt.

Note to Editors: AMD-K6 is a trademark of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. AMD, the AMD logo and combinations thereof are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. Microsoft and Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.

CONTACT: Advanced Micro Devices

John Greenagel, 408/749-3310

john.greenagel@amd.com