The case of Rambus in the US – Standards vs. Antitrust Law

Wissenschaftlicher Aufsatz , 2007 , 26 Seiten , Note: "-"

Jura - Andere Rechtssysteme, Rechtsvergleichung

Global competition is particularly fierce in the IT and communication industry. For this reason the competitive landscape is changing permanently and innovation is a key competitive driver, especially in the software industry. The objectives of patent law however, run contrary to the objectives of antitrust legislation, which have the goal to foster competition and to protect market actors and to avoid damnifications. Additionally a permanent contradiction between privately funded research and collective standards exists.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction.
  • Abstract.
  • Legal foundation Sherman Act/FTC Act.
    • The Sherman Act.
    • The FTC Act.
  • Patent registration under US law
• Terminology
  • Legal Standards.
  • JEDEC
• The Rambus case in the USA
  • Parties Involved
    • Federal Trade Commission.
    • Rambus Inc.
  • The Facts.
  • Indictment.
    • The monopolization of certain Technology Markets.
    • Patent Ambush
    • Amendment.
    • Destruction of Evidence.
  • The judgment of the Federal Trade Commission.
  • Foreseeable Consequences.
• Rambus judgment to be applied to Europe?
  • Market Demarcation
  • Possible Judgment according to European Antitrust Laws.
• Final Remark.

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This text aims to analyze the Rambus case, a landmark antitrust case in the United States, and its implications for the relationship between patent law and antitrust law in the context of the IT and communication industry. The case revolves around Rambus Inc., a company that allegedly manipulated a standardization process to gain an unfair competitive advantage in the memory market. The text explores the legal framework surrounding this case, including the Sherman Act and the FTC Act, and examines the potential consequences of the Rambus judgment for European antitrust law.

• The interplay between patent law and antitrust law in the context of technological innovation.
• The role of standardization processes in the IT and communication industry.
• The potential for companies to manipulate standardization processes for competitive advantage.
• The implications of the Rambus case for antitrust law in the United States and Europe.
• The challenges of balancing innovation with competition in a globalized market.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• Introduction: This chapter introduces the topic of the text, highlighting the tension between patent law and antitrust law in the context of the IT and communication industry. It emphasizes the importance of innovation and the role of patents in protecting intellectual property, while also acknowledging the potential for patents to be used to stifle competition. The chapter sets the stage for the analysis of the Rambus case, which exemplifies this tension.
• Terminology: This chapter defines key terms relevant to the Rambus case, including "legal standards" and "JEDEC," which are essential for understanding the context of the case and the legal arguments involved.
• The Rambus case in the USA: This chapter provides a detailed account of the Rambus case, outlining the parties involved, the facts of the case, the indictment, and the judgment of the Federal Trade Commission. It explores the allegations against Rambus, including the monopolization of certain technology markets, patent ambush, and destruction of evidence. The chapter also discusses the potential consequences of the judgment for the company and the industry.
• Rambus judgment to be applied to Europe?: This chapter examines the potential implications of the Rambus judgment for European antitrust law. It discusses the concept of market demarcation and explores how the judgment might be applied in the European context, considering the differences in antitrust laws between the United States and Europe.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The keywords and focus themes of the text include antitrust law, patent law, standardization, technology, innovation, competition, Rambus, FTC, Sherman Act, JEDEC, memory market, monopolization, patent ambush, and the IT and communication industry. The text explores the complex relationship between patent law and antitrust law in the context of technological innovation, particularly in the highly competitive IT and communication industry. It examines the potential for companies to manipulate standardization processes for competitive advantage and the implications of the Rambus case for antitrust law in the United States and Europe.

• Note: "-"
• Autor: Diplom-Wirtschaftsjuristin (FH) Anni Heimann (Autor:in)
• Erscheinungsjahr: 2007
• Seiten: 26
• Katalognummer: V133185
• ISBN (eBook): 9783640397563
• ISBN (Buch): 9783640397129
• Sprache: Englisch
• Schlagworte: Antitrust law, cartel, rambus, commission, jedec, sherman act, EG-Vertrag, spundfass, standard, kartellrecht, FTC, federal Trade commission, intelectual property, standardisation, standardization, patent, Astra Zeneca, AstraZeneca, clayton act, robinson patman, immenga, SDRAM, RDRAM, UMTS, Kommission, Europäische Kommission, Europarecht, Grundrecht, Kartell, Kartellrecht, Hardcore, Kernbeschränkung, U-Boot, UBoot, Urheberrecht, Erfinder, case, antitrust, microsoft, heimann, gewerblicher Rechtschutz, gewerblicher, kunden, IT, RAM, Speicher, IBM, Union, AEU, Lizenzen, Lizenzrecht, Patentrecht, Markenrecht