Faroudja, General Instrument and Snell &Wilcox Settle Patent Dispute; Snell & Wilcox Enters into
LicensingAgreement with Faroudja for Home Theater Products
March 8, 1999 08:42 AM
SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 8, 1999--Faroudja, Inc. FDJA , Snell & Wilcox, Ltd. and
General Instrument Corporation GIC today announced the resolution of a patent dispute in which Faroudja
alleged that Snell & Wilcox's home theater display optimization product, the Interpolator, infringed a patent held
by Faroudja and two patents licensed by Faroudja from General Instrument on an exclusive basis in certain fields.
While specific terms of the settlement agreement were not disclosed, a key element involves Snell & Wilcox
obtaining from Faroudja a royalty-bearing license to two General Instrument patents. The license applies only to
home theater products, and no technology transfer is involved in the agreement.
The patents included in the settlement relate to detecting the 3:2 pulldown sequence of film-originated video and
deinterlacing techniques used to improve the picture quality of television displays.
"We are pleased that we have settled this dispute in a way that strengthens our future strategic position," stated
Glenn W. Marschel, Jr., Faroudja's President, CEO and Co-Chairman.
Faroudja, Inc FDJA is a world leader in high performance video processing technologies for markets requiring
superior image quality solutions. The company provides innovative products for the HDTV broadcast, home
theater, digital television and PC/TV convergence markets. Faroudja's technologies are protected by more than
50 patents. Faroudja has received numerous awards, including an Emmy award for Engineering Development and
a Lifetime Achievement Emmy presented in June 1998 to its founder, Yves Faroudja.
General Instrument Corporation GIC is a leading worldwide provider of integrated and interactive broadband
access solutions, teaming with its business partners to lead the convergence of the Internet, telecommunications
and video entertainment industries.
Snell & Wilcox is a privately-held electronics group specializing in the invention, design, and manufacture of
high-quality digital video image processing products for the broadcast, satellite, cable, film, and image
communications industries. Its technical expertise has been recognized with numerous awards in Europe as well as
by receipt of two "Emmy" awards from the U.S. National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
Headquartered in the United Kingdom, the company maintains offices throughout the Unites States, Europe, and
the rest of the world.
Except for historical information contained herein, this press release contains forward-looking statements that are
subject to risks and uncertainties, as set forth under the caption "Factors Affecting Future Operating Results" in
Faroudja's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997, in its quarterly reports on
Form 10-Q and other filings with the SEC.
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