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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report: (Date of earliest event reported): May 12, 1997
Digital Equipment Corporation
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Massachusetts 1-5296 04-2226590
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(State or other jurisdiction of (Commission (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) File Number) Identification No.)
111 Powdermill Road, Maynard, Massachusetts 01754
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (508) 493-5111
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(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
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Item 5. Other Events
On May 13, 1997, the registrant issued a press release announcing that on
May 12, 1997 it filed suit against Intel Corporation ("Intel") in the United
States District Court for the District of Massachusetts charging that Intel
willfully infringed ten of the Corporation's patents in making, using and
selling microprocessor products, including Intel's Pentium, Pentium Pro and
Pentium II microprocessor families.
Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.
(c) Exhibits
Exhibit No. 99 Registrant's press release dated May 13, 1997 announcing
that registrant has filed suit against Intel Corporation
("Intel") in the United States District Court for the District of
Massachusetts charging that Intel willfully infringed ten of the
Corporation's patents in making, using and selling microprocessor
products, including Intel's Pentium, Pentium Pro and Pentium II
microprocessor families.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.
DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION
(Registrant)
/s/ Thomas C. Siekman
Thomas C. Siekman
Vice President and General Counsel
Date: May 13, 1997
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EXHIBIT 99
Media Contact: Dan Kaferle
508-493-2195
Investor Contact: Pat Spratt
508-493-7182
DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION SUES INTEL CORPORATION
FOR VIOLATING MICROPROCESSOR ARCHITECTURE PATENTS
...Lawsuit maintains Intel infringed Digital patented technology to
enhance performance of Pentium, Pentium Pro and Pentium II microprocessors...
WORCESTER, Mass., May 13, 1997 - Digital Equipment Corporation (NYSE:DEC) has
filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts, here charging
Intel Corporation with willful infringement of 10 Digital patents in making,
using and selling microprocessor products, including its Pentium, Pentium Pro
and Pentium II microprocessor families.
Alleging that Intel's patent infringement has caused Digital economic
injury and, if not stopped, would cause irreparable harm, the company seeks both
an injunction and monetary damages, including triple damages for Intel's willful
violation of the patents. The injunction would prohibit Intel from using
Digital's patented technology in its present and future microprocessor products.
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"Over the years, Digital has made substantial investments in developing
computing architectures and microprocessor technology," said Digital Chairman
Robert B. Palmer. "It is our duty to our shareholders, customers, partners and
employees to protect our intellectual property rights and the benefits of our
industry-leading research and development efforts."
The patents cited in Digital's lawsuit protect Digital's innovations in
high-performance computing architecture and microprocessor technology. The
patents relate to technologies -- cache management, branch prediction and
high-speed instruction processing -- which are vital to state-of-the-art
microprocessor design. The patents were issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark
Office between 1988 and 1996.
"In developing its VAX and Alpha products, Digital significantly advanced
computer architectures and microprocessor design," Palmer said. "Intel's
unauthorized use of Digital's technology to significantly enhance the
performance of its microprocessors violates Digital's legal rights.
"As a result of its infringement of our patents," Palmer continued, "Intel
has strengthened its monopoly in the X86 market and is seeking to extend its
monopoly to higher-performance microprocessors. This conduct threatens the
competitive environment essential for continued innovation and growth in the
computer industry."
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Thomas C. Siekman, Digital vice president and general counsel, said, "This
lawsuit is essential to protect the billions of dollars Digital and its
shareholders have invested in the development of leading-edge computing and
microprocessor technology."
Digital Equipment Corporation is a world leader in open client/server
solutions from personal computing to integrated worldwide information systems.
Digital's scalable Alpha and X86 platforms, storage, networking, software and
services, together with industry-focused solutions from business partners, help
organizations compete and win in today's global marketplace.
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Additional Editor's Note: Digital, the Digital logo, VAX are trademarks of
Digital Equipment Corporation
Pentium, Pentium Pro and Pentium II are trademarks
of Intel Corporation
