Nathan Myhrvold’s Intellectual Ventures continues to ink deals with large technology companies, adding to its list of more than 30 customers. The latest is Austin, Texas-based Silicon Laboratories — a 16-year-old publicly-traded semiconductor company that makes microcontrollers and integrated circuits used in set-top boxes, televisions and cell phones.
As part of the deal, Silicon Labs will gain access to Intellectual Ventures’ portfolio of more than 40,000 patents.
“Intellectual Ventures’ license gives Silicon Labs ready access to invention rights for a broad set of technologies,” said Roy Maharaj, head of IV’s semiconductor licensing program.
In other news, Kirkland patent holding company Pendrell said that consumer electronics maker Sharp Corp. renewed a patent licensing agreement with its ContentGuard unit. The agreement covers technologies related to wireless handsets.
“Sharp is a worldwide leader in technology innovation, and this renewal of Sharp’s license for handsets underscores the continuing importance of ContentGuard’s leading intellectual property portfolio, while the expansion of the license to cover tablets reflects the emergence of a new class of devices whose primary function is the delivery of content,” commented Mario Obeidat, vice president of licensing for Pendrell.
Previously on GeekWire: Nathan Myhrvold on the hot seat at D10, defends unpopular stance on patent licensing
