> rumor: Wally Rhines, CEO of Mentor, is secretly cheering on Synopsys
>        in the Magma lawsuit but only so it financially wounds Magma
>        enough so Mentor can acquire Magma (sort of like how the Cadence
>        lawsuit wounded Avanti enough to make it acquirable to Synopsys.)
>        As a fallback position, if Magma survives the lawsuit intact,
>        Mentor plans to acquire Sierra.  Mentor is already working
>        closely with Sierra to prepare for this contingency.
>
>            - from http://www.deepchip.com/gadfly/gad083006.html


Although this Mentor-Magma rumor was first published 4 weeks ago, it didn't
start getting legs until 2 weeks later when it was revealed that Mentor was
the unknown 3rd party who asked the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for a
re-examination of some of the patents in the Synopsys-Magma lawsuit -- thus
giving Magma a helping hand in this legal fight.

Now some industry watchers think Mentor actually will eventually end up
merging with Magma, if Magma loses in court.  If Magma loses, the Cadence
and Mentor lawyers will convince the SEC/FTC/whatever-Fed-agency to block
any forced Synopsys-Magma merger using anti-Trust arguments.  The backlash
of this argument will be that Cadence then can't buy the distressed Magma
for the same anti-monopoly reasons, thus leaving Mentor as poor Magma's only
viable suitor.  This also means there won't be the usual backroom bidding
war for Magma (because Cadence and Synopsys couldn't bid) so Mentor will
be able to pick them up cheaply.

And, of course, that secretly planned elopement that was not-so-quietly in
the works with Sierra would be called off.  (Sorry, Sierra, maybe you could
date Cadence then?)

It's now gotten to the point where some are privately joking what the name
of the new merged Mentor-Magma company will be.  So in that vein, I'm having
an open naming contest; send in your suggested new names (and indicate if
you're anonymous or not) and I'll publish them below.  Enjoy!  :)

         ----    ----    ----    ----    ----    ----   ----

    The best we can come up with here is "Menga".

        - Ron Craig of Fishtail DA

         ----    ----    ----    ----    ----    ----   ----

    Mentor Graphics + Magma = MGM

    Not sure if the MGM movie studio would like this.

        - Gayatri Japa of India Times

         ----    ----    ----    ----    ----    ----   ----

    How about 'Lava Graphics'?  Has anyone suggested that yet?
    'LAVA' is Magma's stock ticker symbol and you know where 'Graphics'
    comes from.

        - [ An Anon Engineer ]

         ----    ----    ----    ----    ----    ----   ----

    Pelehonuamea -- in Hawaiian myths, she's the goddess of volcanoes.
    Legend has it she was responsible for all lava flows; a "mentor"
    to the "lava".  Get it?

    For the company logo, a Tiki statue.  Think of the tradeshow
    giveaways possiblities.  And the party themes!

    The company would also have a natural nickname: Pele.  This would
    open up an entire soccer theme.  I tell you, this is gold!

        - Dlyan McGrath of EE Times

         ----    ----    ----    ----    ----    ----   ----

    MnMs: Magma and Mentor Systems

    new motto: "When you peel it, now there's something inside!"

        - [ An Anon EDA Vendor ]

         ----    ----    ----    ----    ----    ----   ----

    My suggestion: M&M's (like the candy)

        - [ An Anon Engineer ]

         ----    ----    ----    ----    ----    ----   ----

    Suggestion: "Magentor" which is MAGma + mENTOR

    From "magenta", a more mature RED that is more hip than PURPLE.

        - [ An Anon EDA Vendor ]

         ----    ----    ----    ----    ----    ----   ----

    Do you recall when Prince legally changed his name to a symbol?
    This left the press having to say "the artist formally known as
    Prince".  (Later, when he changed his name back again, the press
    got their own back by referring to him as "the artist formally
    known as a symbol").

    Well, if this merger takes place, Mentor could legally change
    their name to the symbol "$".  Then Goering, Santarini, Gabe,
    and the rest of the press would have to refer to them in writing
    as "'$', the EDA company formally known as Mentor".

        - Clive Maxfield of Techbites.com

         ----    ----    ----    ----    ----    ----   ----

    Reading the responses got me thinking if Synopsys were to somehow
    buy the Mentor + Magma company it would be

               Synopsys + MEntor + maGMA == SMEGMA

    I think you had better keep me anon if you want to publish this!

        - [ An Anon Engineer ]

         ----    ----    ----    ----    ----    ----   ----

    I'd call it Gulab Jaman DA.  Gulab Jaman is the tasty version of
    what we call "donut holes" in syrup.  I'd call them this because
    Magma would fill the donut hole in Mentor's product line.

        - Mike Santarini of EDN

         ----    ----    ----    ----    ----    ----   ----

    Et Tu Design Automation...  cause that combined senior management
    staff would see a lot of daggers.

        - [ An Anon Industry Watcher ]

         ----    ----    ----    ----    ----    ----   ----

    Well, my new name is based on two things we take for granted.

       1. Mothers are good mentors.
       2. Volcanic magma is hot.

    New Company: Mama's Hot IC Experience

    Marketing phrase: "Mama's got the experience you need!"

    Instead of selling tools, they could emphasize tools and consulting.

    + Mama's HDL code coverage utility even does spelling and grammar
      checks plus interfaces with teaching utilities available from
      outside vendors to monitor grades and track progress.
    + Mama's synthesis tool will do everything but make your bed!
    + Mama's placement tool will make a place for everything and put
      everything in it's place.
    + Mama's routing tool will get your small signals to soccer practice
      your large signals to work at the mall and back and still provide
      a HOT meal experience that meets timing closure.
    + Mama's SOC helper will keep all the embedded housekeeping processes
      in order with advanced multitasking optimization algorithms.  No
      process starvation in this house!
    + Mama's power tools won't let the cookies burn or allow undercooked
      meat to reach the power limit table values!
    + Mama's static-cling-free timing tools will monitor all signals
      against timing curfew and issue appropriate punishments to violators.
    + Mama's sub micron  tool suite includes hepa filters that operate
      down to 65 nm as well as sub-micron laundry detergent and toilette
      bowl cleaner.  We also have an advanced tool in development for
      making all sub-micron design issues clear (code named "SquEEgie".)
      SquEEgie is due out next spring!

    and of course...

    + Mama's new House-Of-Tools non-volatile memory design experience,
      i.e. "Mama's HOT Flash IC Experience."

    But that's not all!  You also get:

    Mama's recent aquisition of the Network Association Group's software
    update reminders or "NAG Reminders":

    - Our screen saver will remind you your computer is STILL on.
    - Tell you how much money the electricity is costing.
    - Interface with office subsystems to turn off the lights when you go
      to lunch but leave at least one obscure light on after dark.
    - Read your e-mail to help protect you from viruses and "bad" girls.
    - Monitor Internet usage and block objectionable web sites.
    - Throw unused peripherals in the trash.
    - Remind you to make regular dentist and doctor appointments.

    I don't have to be anon, John, just please don't send this to my mom!

        - Gordon Aplin of Matricus, Inc.


    Editor's Note: And, yes, I already replied telling Gordon he should
    seek the help of a professionally trained psychologist.   :)  - John