Costly marriage of convenience Intel and Nvidia have announced a six-year cross licensing agreement that will cost Intel $1.5 billion over the next five years. Nvidia will receive the first payment on January 18 2011. In return for such a generous dowry, Intel will receive access to Nvidia’s full range of patents, while Nvidia will retain use of Intel patents in accordance with its existing six-year agreement with Intel. Under the terms of the agreement, both companies will drop all outstanding legal disputes between them. Intel general counsel Doug Melamed said that the agreement will put an end to legal...