Compact Flash as industry standard:
If CompactFlash is available ROYALTY FREE to big *ss kicking firms like NEC, what is to keep them from mass-producing these cards and eventually ignoring SanDisk? Can the members of CFA make these cards as they please? If so, do they have to give any royalties to SNDK? If not, kiss this one goodbye. NEC and the other boys will roll them over with a steamroller.
If SNDK can get royalties, then all is WELL.
In October, 1995, 12 prominent computing, imaging and
consumer electronics companies established the
CompactFlash Association (CFA), an organization that is
promoting the CompactFlash storage specification as a new
industry storage standard. The CFA's founding members are
Apple Computer Inc., Canon, Eastman Kodak,
Hewlett-Packard, LG Semicon, Matsushita (Panasonic),
Motorola, NEC, Polaroid, SanDisk, Seagate and Seiko
Epson. Since that date, numerous firms have joined the
CFA. SanDisk has transferred the CFA trademark and
technical specifications to CFA which makes it available
under a royalty free license to other third party
manufacturers who commit to develop, manufacture and
supply CF products. |
