Imagination Technologies has been almost as powerful in GPU (graphics processing unit) IP licensing as fellow UK firm ARM has been in mobile processors, but it is coming under intense pressure now. Not only is ARM’s own graphics platform, Mali, gaining ground ‘ it has dislodged Imagination’s PowerVR from the upcoming new Samsung Exynos Octa flagship processor ‘ but Nvidia is emulating its model by licensing its own, previously closely guarded, GPU technology, Kepler. Although Samsung has generally used a mixture of Mali and PowerVR technology in its chips, the presence of the ARM IP in the new Exynos 5 Octa caused Imagination’s shares to tumble. The previous Exynos featured PowerVR. Imagination has also suffered from fears of a slowdown…