Dear Steve . . .

A letter I wish would be sent . . . (Revised morning line)

Dear Steve:

I propose that you and I meet, without our lawyers, and settle our company disputes like men. Friday morning, saddle up one of your planes and fly down to the Napa County Airport. I will pick you up at 10:30 a.m. and we can have an early lunch at the French Laundry Restaurant in Yountville.

In an effort to show good faith – darn those lawyer terms - I have handicapped your horses. Please bring an extra copy of this letter to lunch with your handicaps.

Horse: FTC Saves The Day
Odds to win: (5/2)
Comments: Political animal – weak bloodline. Favorable early workout against slow field. Most recent workout last in field. Unpredictable unless the fix is in.

Horse: Feds Slam Rambus (Federal court finds the intellectual property Rambus owns that has found its way into SDRAM & DDRI is unenforceable as a sanction against Rambus for bad behavior.)
Odds to win: (4/1)
Comments: Needs to get away fast. Wet or dry track – J. Payne or J. Whyte? Poor closer when field includes CAFC.

Horse: Feds Slams Rambus Progeny (Unenforceability of SDRAM & DDRI intellectual property extends to DDRII and its progeny.)
Odds to win: (35/1)
Comments: Long shot daily double.

Horse: California Confuse’n (Confuse California jury into believing that since Rambus behaved so badly regarding JEDEC meetings and SDRAM and DDRI litigation, that Rambus deserves only nominal damages in the RDRAM antitrust case – rather than $1B +. )
Odds to win: (75/1)
Comments: Shoot the moon. Only an earthquake will change the outcome. California juries do like plaintiffs, particularly local ones.

I know you need to take something home and be a winner. I am going to be up front – no hide the ball – darn lawyers. Think about this:
SDRAM: 0.5% back and forward
DDRI: 2.0% back and forward
DDRII: 2.25% back and forward
DDRIII: 2.50% back and forward
XDR: Most favored customer

Other: You rat out Hynix and the others (“Does”) regarding RDRAM price-fixing scheme publicly ASAP. As soon as you do that, Rambus drops you from the AT trial in San Francisco. We might have to get our lawyers to put this part in writing. Maybe we can write something out ourselves on a napkin? I’ll bring a laundry marker.

Steve, please give me a call to confirm. My cell number is (***) ***-****. If I don’t pick-up, please leave a message.

Respectfully yours,

Harold

cc: None. I’ll tell those darn lawyers after I get home from our lunch. Hah!

PS. I’ll spring for lunch – next time is on you.

PSS. What are you guys going to do about SFAS123R?