The complaint dates back to November 2000, and concerns a patent
owned by Tulip for a computer with a motherboard design that speeds
up communication between a processor and a common type of PC
expansion board, that aids cooling within the computer housing and
that allows for the case for the computer to be simplified.
Tulip claims that Dell had been using the design in its Optiplex
PCs for three years. The infringing sales of the design over that
period amount to a value of $17 billion, according to Tulip.
Dell has denied that it has infringed any of Tulip's patent
rights.
The original complaint is available at:
www.techlawjournal.com/courts2000/
tulip_dell/20001124com.asp
The text of the patent is
here
