MPEG LA

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Vizio Enters into MPEG LA’s MPEG-2 License

(DENVER, CO, US – 17 November 2008) – MPEG LA, LLC today announced that Vizio, Inc. has entered into the MPEG-2 Patent Portfolio License offered by MPEG LA. As a result of this agreement, several companies that license their essential MPEG-2 patents through MPEG LA withdrew a patent enforcement action pending before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Full news release here

Target Enters into MPEG-2 License with MPEG LA

(DENVER, CO, US – 16 October 2008) – MPEG LA, LLC today announced that Target Corporation has entered into the MPEG-2 Patent Portfolio License offered by MPEG LA. Under the License with MPEG LA, Target will be responsible for paying royalties on its own store branded MPEG-2 products including digital TVs and DVD players sold under the name Trutech®. As a result of this agreement, several companies that license their essential MPEG-2 patents through MPEG LA dismissed a patent enforcement action pending before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Full news release here

German Court Finds DVD Disc Manufacturer Odeon Infringes MPEG-2 Patents

(DENVER, CO, US – 14 October 2008) – The District Court Düsseldorf, Germany recently pronounced 12 verdicts finding that DVD disc manufacturer Odeon Cineplex S.A. (“Odeon”) of Greece, has infringed certain MPEG-2 patents as a result of Odeon’s manufacture of DVD video discs.

The 12 verdicts of infringement were issued in each of the 12 cases for infringement of MPEG-2 patents owned by CIF Licensing, LLC; GE Technology Development, Inc.; Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV; Mitsubishi Electric Corporation; Panasonic Corporation; Sony Corporation; Thomson Licensing S.A.; The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York; and Victor Company of Japan, Ltd. (JVC). Those MPEG-2 patents are also included in the MPEG-2 Patent Portfolio License offered by MPEG LA, LLC.

As a result of these 12 verdicts and upon the patent owners providing the requisite security bonds, enforcement of the verdicts will require Odeon to cease its distribution of DVD video discs in Germany and to pay damages to the patent owners for past DVD video disc distribution in Germany. Odeon may appeal these verdicts.

The MPEG-2 Standard is the core technology underlying the efficient creation, transmission, storage and display of digitized moving images and sound tracks on which DVD and other digital technologies are based; and the DVD-Video Standard (DVD Specifications for Read-Only Disc, Part 3: VIDEO SPECIFICATIONS) requires DVD Video discs to contain information formatted in accordance with the MPEG-2 Standard.
Full news release here

DVD Disc Manufacturer Dicentia Infringing MPEG-2 Patents, German Court Says

(DENVER, CO, US – 18 September 2008) – The District Court Düsseldorf, Germany pronounced last week 12 verdicts on the merits finding that DVD disc manufacturers Dicentia Germany GmbH and Dicentia A/S (collectively, “Dicentia”) have infringed certain patents in the MPEG-2 Patent Portfolio License offered by MPEG LA as a result of Dicentia’s manufacture of DVD video discs.

The 12 verdicts of infringement were issued in all 12 cases on the merits brought by MPEG-2 patent owners who are also Licensors in the MPEG-2 Patent Portfolio License offered by MPEG LA. Those patent owners include CIF Licensing, LLC; GE Technology Development, Inc.; Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV; Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.; Mitsubishi Electric Corporation; Sony Corporation; Thomson Licensing S.A.; The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York; and Victor Company of Japan, Ltd. (JVC).

As a result of these 12 verdicts on the merits and upon the patent owners providing the requisite security bonds, enforcement of the verdicts will require Dicentia to cease its production of DVD video discs in Germany and to pay damages to the patent owners for past DVD video disc production. Dicentia may appeal these verdicts.

In addition, the District Court Düsseldorf issued preliminary injunctions against Mr. Torben Nordquist, Disc Technology Center GmbH and others on behalf of Sony and Philips as a result of the DVD video disc production activities at the former premises of Optical Disc Service (ODS) in Dassow, Germany. See http://www.mpegla.com/news/n_07-01-11_pr.pdf. These injunctions can be appealed, too.

“The verdicts against Dicentia further confirm the need for a license under MPEG-2 patents in DVD video disc production,” said Larry Horn, CEO of MPEG LA.

DVB-T Press Release

(DENVER, CO, US – 29 August 2008) – MPEG LA, LLC and SISVEL S.p.A. announce that as of August 26, 2008 the administration of the DVB-T licensing program, including the administration of all DVB-T Patent Portfolio Licenses previously executed by MPEG LA and licensees, has been transferred from MPEG LA to SISVEL.

The DVB-T patent pool offers a fair, reasonable, nondiscriminatory access to patents owned by France Télécom, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., and Victor Company of Japan, Limited (JVC) that have been determined to be essential for implementing DVB-T, the terrestrial digital television broadcast standard (European Telecommunications Standardization Institute ("ETSI") document ETS300744).

Effective August 26, 2008, licenses under those DVB-T essential patents will be available from SISVEL as an alternative to negotiating separate licenses with the individual patent owners. Existing licensees will receive further communications from MPEG LA regarding the details of the transfer. All inquiries related to licenses under the DVB-T essential patents can be directed to SISVEL and information regarding the DVB-T program can be found on SISVEL’s web-site at www.sisvel.com.
Full news release here

Samsung Sues Polaroid and Westinghouse for ATSC Patent Infringement

(DENVER, CO, US – 16 June 2008) – MPEG LA, LLC today announced that Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (“Samsung”), a patent holder in MPEG LA’s ATSC Patent Portfolio License, has filed a patent enforcement action in the U.S. District Court of Delaware against Polaroid Corporation (“Polaroid”), owned by Petters Group Worldwide, LLC, and Westinghouse Digital Electronics, LLC (“Westinghouse”) for infringement of patents essential to the ATSC standard. Zenith Electronics LLC, also a participant in the ATSC Patent Portfolio program, has a suit pending against the same parties in the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas for infringement of its patents essential to the ATSC standard.

According to the complaint, Polaroid and Westinghouse offer products, such as televisions, television tuners, set-top boxes and digital video recorders, which use patent-protected ATSC methods without having entered into a portfolio license offered by MPEG LA that includes these patents or a license with Samsung.

The suit seeks, among other things, monetary damages and an injunction prohibiting Polaroid and Westinghouse from using ATSC patents in their products and from offering, marketing, or importing them.
Full news release here

COMAG Sued for Infringement of MPEG-2 Patents

(DENVER, CO, US – 9 June 2008) – MPEG LA, LLC, world leader in alternative one-stop patent licenses, today announced that several leading companies have filed separate patent enforcement actions in District Court Dusseldorf, Germany against COMAG Handels AG (“COMAG”), for infringing patents essential to the MPEG-2 digital video compression standard used worldwide in digital television broadcasting and DVD.

Included among the plaintiffs are: CIF Licensing, LLC; GE Technology Development, Inc.; Mitsubishi Denki K.K.; Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V; Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.; Sony Corporation; Thomson Licensing S.A.; and Victor Company of Japan, Ltd. (JVC).

According to the complaints, COMAG offers in Germany products, such as digital set-top boxes, which use patent protected MPEG-2 methods without having entered into licenses with the individual patent holders or a portfolio license that includes these patents offered by MPEG LA.

The suit seeks, among other things, monetary damages and an injunction prohibiting COMAG from using MPEG-2 patents in its products and from offering, marketing, or importing them.
Full news release here

MPEG LA Announces Additions to Management Team
JP Gascon appointed CFO, Alexis (Lexy) DeVane General Counsel

(Denver, CO, US – 14 May 2008) – MPEG LA, LLC, world leader in alternative one-stop patent licenses, today announced the appointment of JP Gascon as Chief Financial Officer and Alexis (Lexy) DeVane as General Counsel.

Mr. Gascon replaces James E. Kluttz, who recently retired. Gascon brings 20 years of experience in accounting, finance and treasury management, most recently as Acting Controller for MPEG LA and founder of consulting company Artemis Financial Controls. A graduate of Ecole Superieure de Commerce de Lyon, Gascon is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Colorado Society of Public Accountants, the Colorado Treasury Management Association and Institute of Internal Auditors. He is based in MPEG LA’s Denver, Colorado office.

Ms. DeVane has been a lawyer with Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, representing MPEG LA. Following her graduation from Emory University School of Law where she received a JD with honors and was elected to the Order of the Coif, DeVane clerked for The Honorable Julie E. Carnes, Federal District Court Judge for the Northern District of Georgia. DeVane graduated from Davidson College with a BA in Political Science and a minor in English, received a Masters Degree in Theological Studies from Emory University, Candler School of Theology and was a Fulbright Scholar in Helsinki, Finland affiliated with the University of Helsinki, School of Law. She will join MPEG LA at the end of May and will be based in MPEG LA’s Chevy Chase, Maryland office.

“The addition of JP and Lexy brings even more strength to MPEG LA’s management team” said MPEG LA Chief Executive Officer Larry Horn. “In addition to a strong working knowledge of MPEG LA, they share an enthusiasm for the Company’s mission. We are pleased to have them. MPEG LA will benefit greatly from their experience and leadership.”
Full news release here

MPEG-2 Patent Owners Sue Target Corporation
for MPEG-2 Patent Infringement

(DENVER, CO, US – 21 April 2008) – MPEG LA, LLC, world leader in alternative one-stop patent licenses, today announced that several MPEG-2 patent owners have filed an enforcement action in the Federal District Court of the Southern District of New York against Target Corporation (“Target”) and Doe Corporations 1-10, fictitious names for corporations currently unknown to the plaintiffs, for infringing patents essential to the MPEG-2 digital video compression standard used worldwide in digital television broadcasting and DVD.

According to the complaint, Target offers in its retail stores a variety of products under its Trutech® house brand name, such as digital televisions and DVD players, that use patent protected MPEG-2 methods without having entered into licenses with the individual patent holders or a portfolio license that includes these patents offered by MPEG LA. The complaint also alleges that at Target's request the Doe Corporations manufacture and produce the unlicensed products for sale by Target under Target's Trutech® brand name, but these Doe Corporations are not believed to be licensed or paying royalties on Target's behalf.

“We have offered Target a license, but regrettably they have refused,” said MPEG LA CEO Larry Horn. “We join those patent owners whose technologies Target is using without benefit of license and those companies who are licensed and paying their fair share of royalties in the hope that these actions finally will get their attention.”

The suit seeks, among other things, monetary damages and an injunction prohibiting Target from using MPEG-2 patents in its products and from offering, marketing, or importing them.
Full news release here

Seven DVD Video Disc Replicators Sign MPEG-2 Licenses
in Conclusion of Patent Infringement Actions

(Chevy Chase, MD, US – 11 March 2008) – MPEG LA, LLC, world leader in alternative one-stop patent licenses, today announced that seven DVD Video disc replicators have become Licensees to MPEG LA’s MPEG-2 Patent Portfolio License in conclusion of patent enforcement actions brought by MPEG-2 patent owners in the District Court Düsseldorf, Germany.

The seven DVD disc manufacturers include CDA Datenträger Albrechts GmbH of Germany, East European Authoring and Encoding Centre Ltd. of Bulgaria, GEMA OD S.A. of Spain, GZ Digital Media a.s. of the Czech Republic, MAF Diskettes SrL of Italy, Megaus Sp. z.o.o. of Poland, and The Video Duplicating Co. Ltd. (VDC) of the United Kingdom.

“We are pleased to welcome these seven DVD Video disc replicators as Licensees to the MPEG-2 Patent Portfolio License” said Larry Horn, CEO of MPEG LA. “They join more than 1,300 other companies as Licensees, including the world’s leading DVD Video disc manufacturers responsible for most DVD Video discs produced in the current world market.”

Plaintiffs in the cases against the seven DVD Video disc replicators included CIF Licensing, LLC; GE Technology Development, Inc.; Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV; Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.; Mitsubishi Electric Corporation; Sony Corporation; Thomson Licensing S.A.; The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York; and Victor Company of Japan, Ltd.

Additional enforcement actions by MPEG-2 patent owners are pending in Germany against DVD Video disc replicators Dicentia Germany GmbH, Dicentia A/S and Odeon Cineplex (formerly Digital Press Hellas), and in Denmark against Dicentia A/S.

Leading Companies and University Sue Alba for MPEG-2 Patent Infringement

(DENVER, CO, US – 04 March 2008) – MPEG LA, LLC, world leader in alternative one-stop patent licenses, today announced that several leading companies and a university have filed separate patent enforcement actions in District Court Dusseldorf, Germany against Alba plc (“Alba”) for infringing patents essential to the MPEG-2 digital video compression standard used worldwide in digital television broadcasting and DVD.

“We have offered Alba a license for many years, but regrettably they have refused,” said MPEG LA CEO Larry Horn. “We join those patent owners whose technologies Alba is using without benefit of license and those companies who are licensed and paying their fair share of royalties in the hope that these actions finally will get their attention.”

Included among the plaintiffs are: CIF Licensing, LLC; The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York; GE Technology Development, Inc.; Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.; Mitsubishi Denki K.K.; Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V; Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.; Sony Corporation; Thomson Licensing S.A.; and Victor Company of Japan, Ltd.

According to the complaints, Alba offers in Germany products such as digital televisions, DVD players and set-top boxes that use patent protected MPEG-2 methods without having entered into licenses with the individual patent holders or a portfolio license that includes these patents offered by MPEG LA.

The suit seeks, among other things, monetary damages and an injunction prohibiting Alba from using MPEG-2 patents in its products and from offering, marketing, or importing them. Full news release here

Amino Communications Sued for MPEG-2 Patent Infringement

(DENVER, CO, US – 28 February 2008) – MPEG LA, LLC, world leader in alternative one-stop patent licenses, today announced that several leading companies and a university have filed separate patent enforcement actions in District Court Dusseldorf, Germany against Amino Communications Limited (“Amino”) for infringing patents essential to the MPEG-2 digital video compression standard used worldwide in digital television broadcasting and DVD.

Plaintiffs in the various lawsuits include: CIF Licensing, LLC; The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York; GE Technology Development, Inc.; Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.; Mitsubishi Denki K.K.; Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V.; Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.; Sony Corporation; Thomson Licensing S.A.; and Victor Company of Japan, Ltd.

According to the complaints, Amino offers in Germany products, such as set-top boxes and other digital television delivery systems, which use patent protected MPEG-2 methods without having entered into licenses with the individual patent holders or a portfolio license that includes these patents offered by MPEG LA.

The suit seeks, among other things, monetary damages and an injunction prohibiting Amino from using MPEG-2 patents in its products and from offering, marketing, or importing them. Full news release here

MPEG LA Sues Audiovox for Breach of MPEG-2 and 1394 Patent Pool Contractual Obligations

(DENVER, CO, US –20 December 2007) – MPEG LA, LLC, world leader in alternative one-stop patent licenses, today announced that it has commenced an action against Audiovox Electronics Corporation (“Audiovox”) for breach of contractual obligations as a Licensee to MPEG LA’s MPEG-2 Patent Portfolio License (the “MPEG-2 Contract”) and 1394 Patent Portfolio License (the “1394 Contract”).

According to the complaint filed in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Audiovox has breached its contractual obligations by failing to report fully its manufacture or sale of products such as DVD players and digital TVs that use the MPEG-2 digital video compression standard or employ the high speed transfer digital interface provided for in the IEEE 1394 standard, failing to make full payments for its manufacture or sale of such products, and refusing to allow an audit as permitted by the MPEG-2 Contract and 1394 Contract (collectively, “the Contracts”).

MPEG LA seeks, among other things, monetary damages, an order requiring Audiovox to allow the contractually required audit, an accounting of all products manufactured or sold by Audiovox subject to the Contracts, as well as injunctive relief prohibiting Audiovox from the manufacture or sale of MPEG-2 and 1394 products.
Full news release here

MPEG LA Sues Alcatel Lucent for Breach of MPEG-2 Patent Pool Contractual Obligations

(DENVER, CO, US – 5 November 2007) – MPEG LA, LLC, world leader in alternative one-stop patent licenses, today announced that it has commenced an action against Alcatel Lucent (“Alcatel”) for breach of contractual obligations as a Licensor in MPEG LA’s MPEG-2 patent pool licensing program. The suit also names Lucent Technologies, Inc. (“Lucent”) and Multimedia Patent Trust (the “Trust”).

According to the complaint filed in the Court of Chancery for the State of Delaware, Alcatel promised to make available to Licensees through MPEG LA’s MPEG-2 Patent Portfolio License all MPEG-2 essential patents which Alcatel can license or sublicense – and not take any action to subvert that commitment. But rather than abide by that promise, Alcatel and Lucent created the Trust to hold patents that Alcatel was and is required to place into the MPEG-2 License, and has taken the position that the essential MPEG-2 patents purportedly transferred to the Trust cannot be placed in the MPEG-2 License.

In fact, the patents were transferred to the Trust (in which Alcatel has 99% beneficial ownership) with Alcatel’s agreement and consent, and the only purpose of the transfer was to avoid Alcatel’s contractual commitment in order to extract additional royalties from MPEG-2 patent pool Licensees.

MPEG LA seeks, among other things, declaratory, injunctive and other equitable relief.
Full news release here

MPEG LA Issues ATSC Patent Portfolio License

(CHEVY CHASE, MD, US – 20 September 2007) – MPEG LA, LLC today announced the availability of the ATSC Patent Portfolio License. The joint license includes patents that are essential to the digital television standard (including high definition and standard definition) developed by the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) and used in digital televisions sold in the United States, South Korea, Mexico, Canada and other countries.

Essential patent holders include Zenith Electronics Corporation; Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.; Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.; Mitsubishi Electric Corporation; Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (Panasonic); LG Electronics Inc.; and Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.

"MPEG LA is proud to play a continuing role in support of digital television's now and next generation," said MPEG LA Chief Executive Officer Larry Horn. "This license gives further testimony to the ability of the MPEG LA^® Licensing Model to address real world market demand for a convenient and reliable one-stop licensing alternative enabling manufacturers to focus their resources on new product development. We applaud these patent holders for their exemplary cooperation in coming together for the benefit of the marketplace with patents of demonstrated value to forge a voluntary marketplace solution inuring to the benefit of ATSC consumers.” Copies of the license agreement may be obtained at http://www.mpegla.com/atsc/atsc-agreement.cfm

MPEG LA welcomes any party that believes it has patents which are essential to the ATSC Standard to submit them for an evaluation of their essentiality by MPEG LA’s patent experts and inclusion in the License if determined to be essential. Interested parties may request a copy of the terms and procedures governing patent submissions at http://www.mpegla.com/atsc/atsc-licensors.cfg. MPEG LA’s objective is to provide worldwide access to as much ATSC essential intellectual property as possible for the benefit of licensees (new patent holders and essential patents may be added at no additional royalty during the current term of the License.
Full news release here

MPEG LA Sues Opta Corporation and Opta Systems, LLC, formerly doing business as GoVideo, for Breach of
MPEG-2 and 1394 License Agreements

(DENVER, CO, US – 18 September 2007) – MPEG LA, LLC, world leader in alternative one-stop patent licenses, today announced that it has sued Opta Corporation and its subsidiary Opta Systems, LLC, formerly doing business as GoVideo, for breach of Opta Systems, LLC’s MPEG-2 Patent Portfolio License and 1394 Patent Portfolio License (“Contracts”) with MPEG LA.

According to the complaint filed in the Delaware Court of Chancery, Opta Systems, LLC has breached its contractual obligations to MPEG LA by failing to report the manufacture and sale of MPEG-2 and 1394 Royalty Products and pay royalties as required by the Contracts. Opta Systems, LLC manufactured and sold DVD players and other devices incorporating patented MPEG-2 and IEEE 1394 technologies. It is further alleged that Opta Systems, LLC’s assets were later transferred to Opta Corporation to avoid paying royalties. MPEG LA seeks, among other things, monetary damages and an order enjoining Opta Systems, LLC and Opta Corporation from using MPEG-2 and 1394 patents.

Digital Products International (DPI, Inc.), formerly GPX, Inc., which reportedly now has an exclusive licensing agreement with Opta Corporation for use of the GoVideo brand, is an MPEG-2 Patent Portfolio Licensee in good standing and is not a party to this action.
Full news release here

US District Court Issues Temporary Restraining Order Against Mintek Digital, Inc.
Order Enjoins Transfer of Assets in Breach of Contract Action Brought by MPEG LA
(Denver, Colorado, US – 12 April 2007) – On April 10, the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado granted MPEG LA’s motion for a temporary restraining order (TRO) enjoining Mintek Digital, Inc. ("Mintek") from further transferring its assets to circumvent liabilities for royalties owed to MPEG LA pending a hearing on MPEG LA’s motion for a preliminary injunction to be held on May 2. The motion was filed in connection with MPEG LA’s lawsuit against Mintek and its parent, Jiangsu Digital Technology Co., Ltd ("Shinco Digital"), and Shinco Digital's parent, Shinco Electronics Group Co., Ltd., for breach of Mintek’s MPEG-2 Patent Portfolio License with MPEG LA (http://www.mpegla.com/news/n_07-02-01_pr.pdf). The Court granted the motion based on evidence indicating that Mintek, at the direction of its parent company, transferred inventory, customers and orders to SuperView Technology without compensation and used the inventory to fulfill customer orders.
Full news release here

MPEG LA Sues DVD Video Disc Manufacturer Regency Media Pty Ltd., of Australia for Breach of MPEG-2 License Agreement
Suit also names AAV Regency Pty Ltd. and AAV Regency Management Pty Ltd.
(Denver, CO, US – 9 April 2007) MPEG LA, LLC today announced that it has sued DVD video disc manufacturer Regency Media Pty Ltd. of Australia for breach of its MPEG-2 Patent Portfolio License ("Contract") with MPEG LA. The suit also names related entities AAV Regency Pty Ltd. and AAV Regency Management Pty Ltd. According to the complaint filed in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Regency repeatedly has breached its contractual obligations to MPEG LA by failing to report the manufacture and sale of MPEG-2 Royalty Products and pay royalties as required by the Contract. MPEG LA seeks, among other things, monetary damages and an accounting of all products subject to the Contract, as well as injunctive relief prohibiting Regency from the manufacture or sale of MPEG-2 Royalty Products.
Full news release here

MPEG LA Issues VC-1 Patent Portfolio License
(Chevy Chase, Maryland USA – 14 March 2007) – MPEG LA today announced the availability of the VC-1 Patent Portfolio License. Copies of the license agreement may be obtained at http://www.mpegla.com/vc1/vc1-agreement.cfm.

As a convenience to the marketplace, the VC-1 Patent Portfolio License offers fair, reasonable, nondiscriminatory access to essential VC-1 intellectual property owned by multiple patent holders in a single license as an alternative to negotiating separate licenses. The License includes essential VC-1 patents owned by DAEWOO Electronics Corporation; France Télécom, société anonyme; Fujitsu Limited; Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.; LG Electronics Inc.; Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (Panasonic); Microsoft Corporation; Mitsubishi Electric Corporation; Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation; Pantech&Curitel Communications, Inc.; Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd; Sharp Corporation; Sony Corporation; Telenor ASA; Toshiba Corporation; and Victor Company of Japan, Limited (JVC).
Full news release here

ODS and ODS Business Services Enter Into MPEG-2 Licenses with MPEG LA
(Chevy Chase, Maryland USA – 6 March 2007) – MPEG LA announced today that DVD replicators ODS Optical Disc Service GmbH, Dassow, Germany, ("ODS"), as well as the ODS Business Services Group companies ("ODS Business Services") ODS Optical Disc Replication GmbH, Dassow, Germany, ODS Business Service Srl (just renamed to ODS Optical Disc Service Srl), Milano, Italy, ODS Optical Disc Service SAS, Quincy, France and the new affiliate ODS Optical Disc Replication Limited, Swindon, UK, have entered into the MPEG-2 Patent Portfolio License offered by MPEG LA. This also concludes actions in courts in the Federal Republic of Germany and elsewhere.
Full news release here

Significant Progress Made Toward Creation of Joint Blu-ray Disc^TM Patent License
Fourth Meeting of Patent Holders Held
(Chevy Chase, Maryland USA - 21 February 2007) - MPEG LA announced today that the fourth meeting of essential Blu-ray Disc^TM patent owners, currently consisting of 18 companies, was held in New York on February 6-7 for the purpose of creating a joint license providing fair, reasonable, non-discriminatory access to essential patents, as an alternative to negotiating separate licenses. Significant progress has been made in identifying licensing terms for Blu-ray Disc^TM products such as players, recorders, drives, software, recordable discs and prerecorded discs. Participating companies include CyberLink Corporation; Dell Inc.; Hewlett-Packard Company; Hitachi Ltd.; Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.; LG Electronics Inc.; Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (Panasonic); Mitsubishi Electric Corporation; Pioneer Corporation; Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.; Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.; Sharp Corporation; Sonic Solutions; Sony Corporation; TDK Corporation; Victor Company of Japan, Ltd.; and Warner Home Video Inc.
Full news release here

MPEG LA Sues Mintek Digital, Inc. for Breach of MPEG-2 License Agreement
Suit alleges Mintek failed to pay millions in royalties, also names Jiangsu Digital Technology Co., Ltd and Shinco Electronics Group Co., Ltd.
(Denver, Colorado, US - 1 February 2007) - MPEG LA, LLC today announced that it has sued Mintek Digital, Inc. ("Mintek"), a manufacturer and supplier of DVD players located in California, for breach of its MPEG-2 Patent Portfolio License ("Contract") with MPEG LA. The suit also names Mintek's parent Jiangsu Digital Technology Co., Ltd ("Shinco Digital") and Shinco Digital's parent, Shinco Electronics Group Co., Ltd. ("Shinco Electronics"), both located in China, as responsible for Mintek's obligations. According to the complaint, Mintek failed to report fully its use of MPEG-2 patents and make royalty payments as required by the Contract. The lawsuit brought in the US District Court of Colorado seeks, among other things, monetary damages and an order enjoining Mintek from using MPEG-2 patents in its products.
Full news release here

German Court Enjoins ODS From Making False Statements
ODS prohibited from claiming to be licensed by MPEG LA
(Denver, Colorado, US - 12 January 2007) - A district court in Germany (Landgericht Düsseldorf) today issued a preliminary injunction finding that statements by German DVD disc manufacturer Optical Disc Service ("ODS") to the effect that ODS has acquired the DVD manufacturing license issued by MPEG LA infringe German competition law. According to the preliminary injunction, ODS is prohibited from making and publicizing false statements such as those made by ODS in a December 28, 2006 press release, which claimed, "As part of the asset deal ODS has acquired the DVD manufacturing licenses issued by MPEG LA and 6C/Toshiba. After litigation with MPEG LA in Europe about the validity of patents and the size of royalty payments, the ODS Group's manufacturing operations in the US, the UK and in Germany have now agreed to be MPEG LA and 6C/Toshiba licensees for their entire DVD production." See http://www.mpegla.com/news/n_07-01-03_pr.pdf.
Full news release here

German Court Issues More Verdicts against ODS
Verdicts in One of Europe's Largest Patent Litigation Actions Further Confirm Need for MPEG-2 Patents in DVD Video Disc Production
(Denver, Colorado, US - 11 January 2007) - Today the leading District Court for patent infringement in Germany, the Landgericht Düsseldorf, has announced six additional verdicts finding that DVD disc manufacturer Optical Disc Service ("ODS") has infringed certain patents licensed in the MPEG-2 Patent Portfolio License offered by MPEG LA, LLC as a result of ODS's manufacture of DVD video discs.
Full news release here

Statements Attributed to ODS Regarding MPEG LA License Are In Error
(Denver, Colorado, US - 3 January 2007) - MPEG LA today refuted statements attributed to DVD disc manufacturer ODS Optical Disc Service ("ODS") to the effect that ODS affiliates have acquired a license issued by MPEG LA (e.g., http://ww2.abc11tv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5865832, http://www.homemediaretailing.com/index.cfm?sec_id=2). MPEG LA has not entered into any license with ODS or any ODS affiliate, and any suggestion or reliance to the contrary is in error. DVD Video discs in accordance with the DVD-Video Standard (DVD Specifications for Read-Only Disc, Part 3: VIDEO SPECIFICATIONS) contain information formatted in accordance with the MPEG-2 Standard, but ODS and ODS affiliates remain unlicensed under patents in the MPEG-2 Patent Portfolio License offered by MPEG LA that are essential to its use. Use of such patents without license also may create infringement liability for ODS customers.
Full news release here

Enforcement of MPEG-2 Infringement Verdicts Proceeds Against DVD Disc Manufacturers ODS
(Denver, Colorado, US - 21 December 2006) - With the posting of security bonds earlier this week, several patent holders enforced verdicts in the German District court (Landgericht Düsseldorf) cases finding that DVD disc manufacturer Optical Disc Service ("ODS") infringed patents licensed in the MPEG-2 Patent Portfolio License offered by MPEG LA, and enforcement of additional verdicts is expected. See http://www.mpegla.com/news/n_06-11-30_pr.pdf. As a result, although the verdicts can be appealed, ODS must cease and desist its current DVD production, which uses the enforced patents, and pay damages to the patent owners for past DVD production.

Full news release here

MPEG LA Further Expands Call for Blu-ray Disc^TM Patents
Hybrid Disc and Blu-ray Disc^TM Portions of DVB-GEM Included
(Denver, Colorado, USA - 6 December 2006) - In its continued response to marketplace interest in accessing as much essential intellectual property as possible in a single license, MPEG LA, LLC today expanded its call for patents essential to the implementation of the Blu-ray Disc^TM Standard to include the following specification:

System Description Blu-ray Disc^TM Rewritable Format,

Part 3 Audio Visual Basic Specifications, Version 3.0, September 2006

Inclusion of this specification is in addition to other Blu-ray Disc^TM Specifications encompassed by previous calls for patents issued by MPEG LA [see http://www.mpegla.com/news/n_06-04-05_bluray.pdf and http://www.mpegla.com/news/n_06-07-27_pr.pdf]. Patents essential to additional Blu-ray Disc^TM Specifications may be called for in the future.

Full news release here

German Court Finds DVD Disc Manufacturer ODS Infringes MPEG-2 Patents
(Denver, Colorado, US - 30 November 2006) - A District Court in Germany (Landgericht Düsseldorf ) today announced verdicts finding that German DVD disc manufacturer Optical Disc Service ("ODS") has infringed certain patents licensed in the MPEG-2 Patent Portfolio License offered by MPEG LA as a result of ODS's manufacture of DVD discs. The verdict of infringement as a result of DVD disc manufacturing issued in eight of nine cases brought by six patent holders who are Licensors to MPEG LA's MPEG-2 Patent Portfolio License. See http://www.mpegla.com/news/n_05-08-02PR.pdf . The patent holders alleged that using the MPEG-2 Standard in recording video onto DVD discs constituted acts of infringement. The MPEG-2 Standard is the core technology underlying the efficient creation, transmission, storage and display of digitized moving images and sound tracks on which DVD and other digital technologies are based; and the DVD-Video Standard (DVD Specifications for Read-Only Disc, Part 3: VIDEO SPECIFICATIONS) requires DVD Video discs to contain information formatted in accordance with the MPEG-2 Standard.

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Sonopress and Affiliates Enter into MPEG-2 License with MPEG LA
(Denver, Colorado, US - 18 October 2006) - MPEG LA today announced that DVD manufacturers Sonopress GmbH; Sonopress Ireland Ltd., Dublin; Sonopress Iber-Memory S.A., Madrid; Sonopress Pan Asia Ltd., Hong Kong; Sonopress Singapore Pte Ltd., Singapore; Arvato de Mexico, S.A. de C.V., Mexico; Sonopress Rimo Industria e Comercio Fonografica Ltda, Sao Paulo; and Sonopress Pty., Sydney have rejoined Sonopress LLC, Weaverville as licensees to the MPEG-2 Patent Portfolio License offered by MPEG LA. This agreement also concludes actions in a district court of the Federal Republic of Germany.

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MPEG LA Announces VC-1 License Terms
License Agreement Expected to Issue During 2006
(Denver, Colorado, US - 17 August 2006) - MPEG LA, LLC announced today that an initial group of essential patent holders have agreed on final terms of license to be included in the VC-1 Patent Portfolio License ("License"), expected to issue during 2006. A summary of the license terms is attached.

"This represents an extraordinary and persistent effort by a devoted group of patent owners acting in the public interest," said MPEG LA Chief Executive Officer Larry Horn. "By the patent owners' commitment to make available a joint patent license for the convenience of VC-1 adopters, consumers benefiting from a marketplace of competitive technology choices are the clear winners."
Full news release here

MPEG LA Further Expands Call for Blu-ray Disc^TM Patents
Hybrid Disc and Blu-ray Disc^TM Portions of DVB-GEM Included
(Denver, Colorado, USA - 27 July 2006) - Responding to marketplace interest in accessing as much essential intellectual property as possible in a single license, MPEG LA, LLC today expanded its call for patents essential to the implementation of the Blu-ray Disc^TM standard to include the Hybrid Blu-ray Disc format and portions of the DVB-GEM specification that pertain to BD-J referenced in Blu-ray Disc Read-Only Format, Part 3:

(1) Blu-ray Disc, Hybrid Format, Part 1: Basic Format Specifications, version 1.01 December 2005

(2) DVB-GEM [ETSI TS 102 819 V1.3.1 (2005-10) - Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB); Globally Executable MHP version 1.0.2 (GEM 1.0.2); A095: Errata (1) to Globally Executable MHP (TS 102 819 V1.3.1)] as referenced in Blu-ray Disc Read-Only Format, Part 3

Inclusion of these specifications is in addition to other Blu-ray Disc^TM specifications encompassed by previous calls for patents issued by MPEG LA [see http://www.mpegla.com/news/n_06-04-05_bluray.pdf]. Patents essential to additional Blu-ray Disc^TM specifications may be called for in the future.
Full news release here

First Meeting of Blu-ray Disc^TM Patent Holders Held
Progress Made, Input Welcomed in Creation of Joint Patent License
(Denver, Colorado USA - 20 July 2006) - MPEG LA announced today that the first meeting of essential Blu-ray Disc^TM patent owners, consisting of 17 companies, was held in Los Angeles on July 6-7 for the purpose of creating a joint license providing fair, reasonable, non-discriminatory access to essential patents, as an alternative to negotiating separate licenses. Participating companies included CyberLink Corporation; Dell Inc.; Hewlett-Packard Company; Hitachi Ltd.; Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.; LG Electronics Inc.; Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (Panasonic); Mitsubishi Electric Corporation; Pioneer Corporation; Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.; Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.; Sharp Corporation; Sony Corporation; TDK Corporation; Victor Company of Japan, Ltd.; and Warner Home Video Inc.
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MPEG LA Signing IPR Protection
Memorandum of Understanding with Chinese Partners
Beijing, China - April 27, 2006 - MPEG LA, LLC, the world leader in one-stop technology platform patent licenses, today signed an IPR Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the China Audio Industry Association (CAIA) and the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products (CCCME) during the China National Intellectual Property Rights Week 2006. Multiple negotiations, followed by the MOU signing, present a landmark achievement for MPEG LA's cooperation with Chinese partners.
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MPEG LA Shares IPR Licensing Model at
China High-level Forum on IPR Protection 2006
MPEG LA One-Stop Model Is Key to Monetizing China's IPR Assets, Strengthening China's Economy and Increasing China's Worldwide Competitiveness
Beijing, China - April 26, 2006 - Lawrence Horn, Manager and CEO of MPEG LA, LLC, the world leader in one-stop technology platform patent licenses, spoke at the China High-level Forum on IPR Protection 2006 in Beijing, sharing MPEG LA's one-stop licensing model and worldwide experience. The forum is a key part of the China National Intellectual Property Rights Week 2006 campaign.
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MPEG LA Issues MPEG-2 Systems Patent Portfolio License
License provides coverage forMPEG-2 Systems Standard in products without MPEG-2 video decoders or encoders
(Denver, Colorado, US - 19 April 2006) - MPEG LA today announced the availability of the MPEG-2 Systems Patent Portfolio License providing coverage for use of the MPEG-2 Systems Standard in products without MPEG-2 video encoders or decoders. The MPEG-2 Systems Standard (ISO documents IS 13818-1 (including annexes C, D, F, J and K)) defines how to format the various components of multimedia programs and combine them into a single program or transport bitstream. Currently included in the License are essential patents owned by Alcatel, GE Technology Development, Inc., Hitachi, Ltd., Mitsubishi, Philips, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Scientific Atlanta, and Thomson Licensing. Copies of the License can be requested at http://www.mpegla.com/m2s/m2s-agreement.cfm.
Full news release here

MPEG LA Expands Call for Blu-ray Disc^TM Patents
Read-Only Audio Video Included
(Denver, Colorado, USA - April 5, 2006) - MPEG LA, LLC today expanded its call for patents essential to the implementation of the Blu-ray Disc^TM Standard to include the System Description Blu-ray Disc Read-Only Format Part 3 Audio Visual Basic Specifications Version 1.0 (January 2006). MPEG LA's plan for forming a joint patent portfolio license to provide users with fair, reasonable, nondiscriminatory access to the Blu-ray Disc^TM technology as an alternative to negotiating separate licenses was first announced in a 9 November 2005 news release [see http://www.mpegla.com/news/n_05-11-09_bluray.pdf]. The inclusion of the Read-Only Format Version 1, Part 3: Audio Visual Basic Specifications is in addition to the other parts of the standard earlier announced.
Full news release here

Second Meeting of ATSC Essential Patent Holders to be Held February 8
MPEG LA Call for Essential Patents Continues
(Denver, Colorado, USA - 24 January 2006) - MPEG LA today announced that the next meeting of ATSC essential patent holders will be held February 8 in New York City. The meeting is part of a continuing effort to address the market's demonstrated need for a single license consisting of essential patents for the digital terrestrial television standard known as ATSC. ATSC, which has been adopted for the transmission and reception of digital television broadcast signals in the United States, incorporates the RF modulation format known as 8-VSB in addition to other technologies.
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Period for Initial Blu-ray Disc^TM Patent Submissions Extended
Initial Submissions Now Requested By February 15, 2006
(Denver, Colorado, USA - 01 December 2005) - MPEG LA, LLC today announced that it has extended until February 15, 2006 (from December 15, 2005) the period for the initial submission of patents to be evaluated by independent patent experts for their essentiality to the Blu-ray Disc^TM Standard. MPEG LA's plan for forming a joint patent portfolio license to provide users with fair, reasonable, nondiscriminatory access to the Blu-ray Disc^TM technology as an alternative to negotiating separate licenses was first announced in a 9 November 2005 news release [see http://www.mpegla.com/news/n_05-11-09_bluray.pdf]. The call for essential patents is the first step in that process.
Full news release here

MPEG LA Issues Expanded AVC Patent Portfolio License
(Denver, Colorado, USA - 15 November 2005) - MPEG LA, LLC today issued a revised AVC Patent Portfolio License expanding coverage to include the AVC Fidelity Range Extensions (FRExt/AVC), in addition to the other AVC/H.264 profiles currently included in the AVC/H.264 video standard (ITU-T Rec. H.264, March 2005). MPEG LA previously announced on January 27, 2005 that this expansion would be forthcoming (http://www.mpegla.com/news/n_05-01-27_avc.pdf). The current royalty rates that apply to products which use one or more AVC profiles also apply to products that use FRExt/AVC.
Full news release here

MPEG LA Announces Plan for Blu-ray Disc^TM Patent License
(Denver, Colorado, USA - 9 November 2005) - MPEG LA, LLC, world leader in one-stop technology standards patent licensing, today issued a call for patents and patent applications that are essential to the Blu-ray Disc^TM Standard.
Full news release here

Leading Companies and University Sue DVD Disc Manufacturer ODS for Patent Infringement
(Denver, Colorado, US - 02 August 2005) - MPEG LA today announced that several leading electronics companies and a university have filed suit in Germany against Optical Disc Service ("ODS") for infringing patents used in DVD disc manufacturing. Plaintiffs include France Télécom, S.A.; Fujitsu Ltd., GE Technology Development, Inc.; Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV; Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.; Mitsubishi Electric Corporation; Robert Bosch GmbH; Sony Corporation; Thomson Licensing S.A., The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York, and Victor Company of Japan, Ltd.
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DVD Disc Makers QOL, V.T.V. NV, kdg Enter Into MPEG LA's MPEG-2 Patent License
Signing Concludes Infringement Actions Brought by MPEG-2 Patent Owners
(Denver, Colorado, US - 26 July 2005) - MPEG LA, LLC, of Denver, Colorado, and three optical disc manufacturers, QOL of France, V.T.V. NV of Belgium and kdg Mediatech of Austria, France and the United Kingdom, announced today that QOL, kdg and V.T.V. NV have become licensees to MPEG LA's MPEG-2 Patent Portfolio License. The DVD disc manufacturers are founding members of a trade association called Optical Disc Association ("ODA"). Their decision to accept the license concludes litigation in Germany and France brought by patent holders to the MPEG-2 Patent Portfolio License and the three DVD disc manufacturers.
Full news release here

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