Xockets, Inc., a company based in Texas known for its development of advanced Data Processing Units (DPUs), has filed two lawsuits against Amazon.com, Inc. and Amazon Web Services. The lawsuits were submitted to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, Austin Division, alleging that Amazon has infringed on Xockets' patents related to DPU technologies.
According to Xockets, these DPUs are crucial for modern cloud computing and artificial intelligence applications. The company claims that Amazon has used these technologies without permission to enhance its cloud computing capabilities and reduce costs. Xockets further alleges that the infringement is centered around Amazon's Annapurna Labs in Austin, Texas.
Robert Cote, a board member at Xockets, said, "These lawsuits aren’t just about patents. They’re about laws of a higher order," emphasizing the importance of innovation and creation.
The conflict traces back to 2017 when Amazon reportedly held a meeting with Xockets under the pretense of acquiring the company but later began deploying similar DPU technology across its data centers without finalizing any acquisition. This deployment includes more than 20 million servers using Nitro-branded DPUs.
Xockets seeks injunctions to halt what it describes as ongoing patent infringement by Amazon and demands monetary damages. The first lawsuit addresses three specific patents concerning DPU computing architecture essential for cloud infrastructure, while the second focuses on four patents related to DPU switching architecture critical for AI operations.
The legal action comes after failed attempts by Xockets to resolve the issue with Amazon outside of court last year. Represented by Susman Godfrey LLP, Xockets aims for a swift resolution due to what it sees as significant harm caused by the alleged infringement.