In an order issued Tuesday (May 12), the FTC indicated it would not pursue further proceedings against Rambus, saying that "further litigation in this matter would not be in the public interest."

The FTC originally brought charges against Rambus in 2002 relating to Rambus' 1992-1995 participation in an industry standard setting committee, the Joint Electron Device Engineering Council (Jedec).

Following a three-month trial in 2003, a determination by an FTC administrative law judge initially exonerated Rambus. But the full FTC reversed the decision on appeal from the FTC's complaint counsel and found Rambus liable for violating Section 2 of the Sherman Act.

The Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia later vacated the FTC orders on appeal. Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court denied the FTC's request for review of the appeals court decision.

In a statement, Thomas Lavelle, senior vice president and general counsel at Rambus (Los Altos, Calif.) said Rambus has prevailed on similar Jedec-related claims at the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and before a federal district court.

"We are pleased to have finally put this matter behind us," Lavelle said.