So i sayeth ...
trenzich
Acacia Research Subsidiary Licenses V-chip Patent to Philips Electronics
PASADENA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 18, 2000--Acacia Research Corporation (Nasdaq:ACRI) today announced that its majority-owned subsidiary, Soundview Technologies, will receive payment and grant a non-exclusive license of its U.S. Patent 4,554,584 to Philips Electronics, the second largest manufacturer of televisions sold in the United States.
Soundview's patent relates to television video and audio blanking technology, commonly known as V-chip technology.
The license to Philips Electronics is part of a Settlement Agreement regarding pending litigation brought by Soundview. The Settlement Agreement requires that both parties keep the terms of the settlement, including financial payments to Soundview, confidential.
Soundview's V-chip technology, invented by Carl Elam, uses a television's receiver circuitry to decode content rating information sent as part of the broadcast signal. By utilizing the broadcast signal that carries closed-caption data, Soundview's technology is relatively inexpensive to implement.
The FCC adopted this method as the technical standard for new televisions sold in the United States that are required to have V-chip technology. The 1996 Telecommunications Act requires all TV manufacturers to include V-chip technology in new television sets with screens 13 inches or larger sold in the U.S. after Jan. 1, 2000. Approximately 25 million new televisions are sold each year in the United States.
Soundview has filed a federal patent and antitrust lawsuit against all television manufacturers, the Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association, and the Consumer Electronics Association. In its lawsuit, pending before the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, Soundview alleges that television sets fitted with V-chips infringe Soundview's patent.
Additionally, Soundview alleges that the Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association has induced infringement of the patent and that the defendants have violated the federal Clayton and Sherman Antitrust Acts by engaging in collusive attempts to prevent others in the electronics and television broadcasting industries from entering into licensing agreements with Soundview Technologies. Soundview is seeking monetary damages, an injunction preventing unlicensed use of its patented technology, and other remedies.
Acacia Research owns 66.7% of Soundview Technologies. |
