AMD 8080 microprocessor family

AMD started manufacturing it's own unauthorized second-source 8080A microprocessor in 1975. The microprocessor was called 9080A, and it was a reverse-engineered version of Intel 8080A with slightly enhanced electrical parameters and smaller die size. As a direct result of releasing of the 9080A, AMD was able to negotiate technology and patent cross-license agreement with Intel in 1976. The cross-license agreement gave AMD limited rights to use Intel microcode, which didn't matter much for 8080A microprocessor as it didn't use microcode at all, but became very important 15 years later. As part this or related agreement AMD became an authorized second source of 8080A.