Updated: 2024-12-24 ## History 1990s only two companies were doing IP - [[VLSI Technology]] pioneered the concept of design libraries and IP reuse in the late 1980s and early 1990s, which became foundational to the semiconductor IP business. In 1990, it spun off [[Compass Design Automation]], an EDA, to focus on its core semi business. - [[Artisan Components]], founded 1991, provided physical IP for semi design, particularly cell libraries, memory compilers, and I/O cells - Reusable design blocks was not yet mainstream. The concept gained momentum in the late-1990s and early 2000s as more companies like ARM, Synopsys, and Cadence entered the IP business. 1995 - [[SNPS US - Synopsys]] acquires [[Silicon Architect]] 1996 - [[Virage Logic]] was founded. One of the early pioneers of third-party IP business competing with Artisan and Rambus. 1997 - [[Magma Design Automation]] is founded by [[Rajeev Madhavan]]. Focused on advanced physical design and implementation tools for integrated circuits, particularly in the areas of place-and-route and timing analysis. This reduced design complexity and turnaround time. - [[AVNT US - Avant]] acquires [[Compass Design Automation (private)]] to became a significant EDA player. 2001 - [[SNPS US - Synopsys]] acquires [[AVNT US - Avant]]. Legal disputes on IP theft with Cadence led to Avant! being acquired. 2004 - [[ARM US - Arm Holdings]] acquires [[Artisan Components]]. People thought ARM was crazy, but they got control of "all the foundries and everyone who wants to build libraries." ([[2024-05-22 Expert Interview|Expert]]) During this time, Synopsys and Cadence were figuring out their IP business. 2010 - [[SNPS US - Synopsys]] acquires [[Virage Logic]]. Specialized in embedded memory, logic, and physical IP for system-on-chip designs. Filled a critical niche in IP industry by addressing the demand for customizable and optimized memory and logic IP. - [[CDNS US - Cadence]] acquires [[Denali Software]]. It strengthened Cadence's system design and verification space, particularly in memory systems and interface IP. It wanted to compete more effectively with Synopsys. 2011 - [[SNPS US - Synopsys]] acquires [[Magma Design Automation]] after legal battles in the mid-2000s. Magma addressed the challenges of deep-submicron design. 2017 - [[CDNS US - Cadence]] acquires [[nusemi inc (private)]], a company focused on the development of ultra-high-speed SerDes IP. ## Sources - ChatGPT - [[2024-05-22 Expert Interview]]