AMD's joint venture for producing x86 server chips in China is curious. It's made up of two entities, one of which AMD controls.
It's being spun as primarily a licensing opportunity, and not involving GPU or ARM tech.
The dual-entity structure sounds like AMD's portion would be keeping some of its IP under its purview, but rather than selling a specific product there are expectations of royalties in the future. AMD might be expecting money in the form of compensation for R&D, but how primarily x86-based tech will come in as royalties is curious.
I think it would be prudent if important IP specific to whatever x86 cores are involved stayed on AMD's side, with perhaps tech related to interfaces and using them potentially licensed. Perhaps something like an ARM licensed core could be handled by the AMD side and then plugged into an integrated product?
Legalities or possible US government scrutiny aside, such a separation might be prudent because these sorts of joint ventures have been known to leverage IP security long-term for short-term revenue. Even if there is such a separation, it's not a sure thing that the IP held close to the vest doesn't wind up in local competing products anyway.
It's being spun as primarily a licensing opportunity, and not involving GPU or ARM tech.
The dual-entity structure sounds like AMD's portion would be keeping some of its IP under its purview, but rather than selling a specific product there are expectations of royalties in the future. AMD might be expecting money in the form of compensation for R&D, but how primarily x86-based tech will come in as royalties is curious.
I think it would be prudent if important IP specific to whatever x86 cores are involved stayed on AMD's side, with perhaps tech related to interfaces and using them potentially licensed. Perhaps something like an ARM licensed core could be handled by the AMD side and then plugged into an integrated product?
Legalities or possible US government scrutiny aside, such a separation might be prudent because these sorts of joint ventures have been known to leverage IP security long-term for short-term revenue. Even if there is such a separation, it's not a sure thing that the IP held close to the vest doesn't wind up in local competing products anyway.