USPTO - 1, Tensilica - 0 : Tensilica's configurable and extensible 32-bit Xtensa microprocessor core is some pretty heavy-duty stuff, and the patents covering the technology are licensed to many of the "big boys" in the business (for an overview of the technology, click here). However, a prickly (and anonymous) third-party has requested a re-examination of their keystone 6,477,683 patent recently, and the Examiner rejected all 104 claims. May ARC International be behind this? In at least one previous comment (made right after the patents were issued), a representative of the company stated that "I believe that most claims in this field would find a considerable body of prior art, much of which would be ours."

Ouch.