Rambus is keeping its license to print money from fast memory patents for just a little longer. The US memory chip designer today told the world that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has stayed some of its remedy order against the company - so long as Rambus files its appeal in a "timely" manner.

The FTC charges Rambus with hoodwinking the JEDEC industry standards group into approving memory technologies on which it secretly held patents. Through subterfuge, the company illegally gained a monopoly in four key memory technologies, the FTC found. By way of punishment last month, it slashed the maximum rates that Rambus could levy on patented memory sales, reducing the royalty to zero in over three years.

Rambus plans to appeal the FTC's liability and remedy.

In the meantime, the FTC's clarification of its antitrust remedy means that Rambus does not have to repay any royalties already collected, and that it can continue to levy charges at the old rates. Monies collected over and above the FTC remedy are to be put into an escrow account until the court of appeals makes up its mind on the matter.

Finally, Rambus has won confirmation that royalties on DDR2 SDRAM and other post-JEDEC standards are ring fenced from FTC action. ®

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• Rambus pitches XDR2 for future memory (26 May 2009)
• FTC drops Rambus 'patent ambush' claims (14 May 2009)
• Supremes reject Rambus 'patent ambush' case (23 February 2009)
• Rambus legal crusade blunted by paper shredder (12 January 2009)
• Rambus wins big in monopoly ding-dong (26 March 2008)
• EC accuses Rambus of 'patent ambush' (23 August 2007)
• Wife of Rambus CEO outed as message board troll (6 August 2007)
• FTC sets Rambus DDR SDRAM royalty rate (5 February 2007)
• FTC slams Rambus' memory 'monopoly' (2 August 2006)
• Rambus accepts lower damages from Hynix (28 July 2006)
• Micron sets RICO on Rambus (22 February 2006)