In the Kilby vs. Noyce case, pitting Texas Instruments against Fairchild Semiconductors for the first patent on integrated circuits, the patent was granted to Noyce of Fairchild, even though Fairchild filed the patent. But it wouldn’t end there: Texas filed a Priority Contest, which led to the Kilby vs. Noyce case, which dragged on for several years. In June 1964, the patent was granted to Kilby and his priority was recognized. In February 1967, the final verdict confirmed this position. Fairchild then appealed, and the court ruled in November 1969 that Noyce was in favor. Texas appealed to the Supreme Court, which refused to hear the case. Ultimately, however, the integrated circuit market was so vast and advanced compared to the original patent that the two companies agreed to grant each other cross-licenses.
