AMD entered the CPU market with reverse-engineered Intel 8080 clone 50 years ago

Fifty years ago, AMD entered the CPU market by reverse-engineering Intel's 8080 processor to create the Am9080, which cost only 50 cents to produce but sold for $700 to military customers. AMD and Intel eventually signed a licensing agreement in 1976 that legitimized AMD as a "second source" supplier, crucial for military contracts requiring backup suppliers. This foundational deal paved the way for future agreements that allowed AMD to develop its own x86 processors, launching the company's path to becoming a major CPU manufacturer.