Intel, Broadcom settle trade secret litigation

(Telephony) Intel Corp. and Broadcom Corp. have settled trade secret claims against each other in California Superior Court. Intel filed the first complaint against Broadcom in March. Broadcom initiated a counter-complaint in June.

"We reached settlement. The terms are confidential. Beyond that, it's part of a normal litigation dispute resolution process. We're always happy to find a way without continuing on to trial," said Intel spokesman Brian Mulloy.

That may be the case with trade secrets, but there is still no resolution of Intel's patent infringement suit filed against Broadcom last August.

"That case is still pending. That's very early in the case at this stage," said Mulloy.

Broadcom, starting with silicon for cable modems and digital cable set-top boxes, has moved into other telecommunications products and ascended to a dominant position in a chip field that Intel has ruled for years. The trade secret settlement, Mulloy emphasized, will not affect the two companies' competitive market positions or any move by Intel to counter Broadcom's cable dominance.

"All that you can infer is what we said in our press release," Mulloy said. "This only settles the trade secret dispute."