[JURIST] PC hardware manufacturer Rambus [corporate website] unlawfully monopolized [press release] four markets for dynamic random access memory (DRAM) computer chips and deliberately withheld information about forthcoming patents on the technology from a technology-standards-setting group, according to an opinion released Wednesday by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). In the unanimous commission opinion [PDF text], Commissioner Pamela Jones Harbour wrote:

Rambus's conduct was calculated to mislead JEDEC [Joint Electron Device Engineering Council] members by fostering the belief that Rambus neither had, nor was seeking, relevant patents that would be enforced against JEDEC-compliant products...Under the circumstances, JEDEC members acted reasonably when they relied on Rambus's actions and omissions and adopted the SDRAM and DDR SDRAM standards.