Rambus Gets More Headwinds

However, Rambus CEO Harold Hughes said he is "fine" with the settlement terms, and he expects other settlements won't be as generous for its licensing partners as the one announced Monday. "I don't expect those conditions to be the same as we go forward with other licensees," he said.

Hughes also noted Monday's deal didn't necessarily change the company's arrangement with Samsung, the world's largest memory-chip manufacturer and a significant Rambus customer, but Hughes acknowledged that all licensing deals are related.

"These are all interactive and have great hierarchy," he said. "Anytime we sign a major participant, it universally increases the pressure on all other licensees and on the potential renewal of licenses."

In other words, Rambus has gained back nearly one-third of its market cap with a deal that it considers a generous one for the opposing side. The real payoff for Rambus investors remains a key goal for the future.

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