( ESNUG 444 Item 4 ) -------------------------------------------- [04/25/05]
Subject: More Neutral EDA Vendors on the Synopsys-Magma Lawsuit
> For EDA vendors (who are NOT Magma nor Synopsys employees), what do you
> think will realistically happen and not happen to Magma users if Synopsys
> wins this lawsuit?
From: [ An Anon EDA Vendor ]
Hi, John,
Regardless of what happens in the courtroom, users will still get to use
the tool they want -- they just might have to pay Synopsys for
maintenance and support from now on. Synopsys would have to be nuts to
just drop an established user base which is happily using a pretty good
tool -- and, of course, the revenues that come with it.
- [ An Anon EDA Vendor ]
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
From: [ An Anon EDA Vendor ]
John,
How is this going to be any different than the Cadence/Avanti lawsuit?
Basically it will drag out for years during which time if Magma believes
it has problems, they will create a non-infringing version of the software
and migrate all of their loyal customers on to it.
If they end up on the chopping block either Cadence or Synopsys (or someone
else with deep pockets waiting in the wings) will snarf them up. Either
way the customers will keep using the tools and if it looks like it's going
to be a big problem for them, they will help Magma bail themselves out.
- [ An Anon EDA Vendor ]
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
From: [ An Anon EDA Vendor ]
Hi John,
These wranglings are bad for the industry. Customers see EDA providers
putting more effort into legal squabbles than tool development; this all
coming on the back of reports that more and more companies are starting
to develop their own in-house tools. An immature industry is one that
potential users will be more prone to stay away from.
If Synopsys "wins" (I use that term with caution as there's no winner
here), my best guess is a buyout. Synopsys consumes Magma in much the
same way that it consumed Avanti. Customers lose some potential
innovation. Synopsys takes what it likes from Cobra and ditches what
it reportedly believes doesn't work anyway. Synopsys has already set a
recent precedent for abandoning existing users after a buy-out. I don't
see this happening in this case given the larger customer base, but if
your flow only works with the fixed-timing methodology then you're
probably stuck.
Why can't this industry just grow up?
- [ An Anon EDA Vendor ]
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
From: [ An Anon EDA Vendor ]
I think one of the below will happen:
1. Magma will pay Synopsys a huge license fee for the "Gain based
Synthesis" and life will just go on
2. Synopsys will buy Magma - at a market cap of $200M and revenue of
over $100M as LAVA is today, it is just an open invitation. (Nassda)
Realistically speaking, if Synopsys wins this, I don't think Synopsys will
dare pull the plug on the Magma customers. Usually they are also Synopsys
customers and this whole thing will backfire on them. (This is the logical
answer, regretfully, logic was never a strong decision making factor in
our industry.)
- [ An Anon EDA Vendor ]
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
From: [ An Anon EDA Vendor ]
Hi John,
We are such a small industry. These lawsuits hinder innovation, which
is often done by the smaller companies. Now they will be afraid to
create something innovative.
As it is, the number of ASIC design starts is decreasing. The end users
will also get vexed if this type of scenario continues and approach the
IDMs who develop their own tool flows for solutions to their problems.
This will hurt the EDA market again.
- [ An Anon EDA Vendor ]
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
From: [ An Anon EDA Vendor ]
This is a new acquisition strategy for Synopsys. Nassda was accused
with the same type of litigation, theft of IP, and we can see what is
happening there. Synopsys is removing the competition by buying them.
I believe this is the same strategy employed in the Magma-Synopsys
lawsuit.
- [ An Anon EDA Vendor ]
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
From: Richard Bosenko <richard=user domain=daysman hot dom>
Hi John,
I don't think this will impact Magma users. I believe the lawsuit will
be settled in favor of Magma. I am of the opinion that the IP originated
with IBM and if Magma has rights to IBM IP as they claim, then they well
prevail.
However I also believe that this issue will be a major obstacle to Magma's
future and set them back 2 or 3 years in revenue growth.
- Richard Bosenko
Consulting for Tuscany DA Longmont, CO
Index
Next->Item
|
|
