EDTA had some news. After reading it, it seems that they are gaining fax patents from Freeny for fax's for use in Europe and relinquishing its rights to "THE Internet patent" to Freeny in the U.S.
As I focus on the US, EDTA is focusing more into Europe, where Mr. Robertson resides so for that reason I have mixed feelings. Mr Robertson will welcome inquiries. Here's the Release:
E-Data Granted Licenses for Internet Fax and Audience Response Patents; Plans to Sub-License to European Companies;
PR Newswire - June 14, 1999 05:45
Grants Internet Patent License in U.S. Covering Internet Sales to Home or Office
DALLAS, June 14 /PRNewswire/ -- E-Data, Inc., (OTC Bulletin Board: EDTA) and ABC (Automated Business Companies) today announced an Agreement where E-Data will license two of ABC's patents, which license will permit E-Data to sub-license such patents to European companies who infringe on these patents and who conduct business in the United States.
One of such patents, U.S. Patent No. 4,837,797, covers facsimile machines that can distinguish between voice and machine interpretable messages (such as fax and data). Such patent has already been licensed to several major manufacturers of facsimile machines.
The other patent, U.S. Patent No. 5,694,162 entitled "Method for Automatically Changing Broadcast Programs Based on Audience Response," relates to automated interactive broadcast and particularly to an automatic interactive web site having two or more pages of which one page is broadcast to one viewer and a different page is broadcast to a different viewer. Typically, the patent covers systems which allow individuals to select independently different topics such as sales items or informational items from a Web Site to be broadcast next.
The rapid rise in the number of interactive Web Sites to over 500,000 today and the popularity of the World Wide Web Broadcast System as a low cost direct customer interactive communication media gives the patent a large license base. The Agreement also provides that E-Data will have the right to license future patents from ABC, which has several patent applications in various stages of approval, both in the United States and in Europe.
E-Data will grant to ABC a non-exclusive license in the United States for its Freeny Patent as it applies to internet transactions. The District Court interpreted the Freeny Patent narrowly and excluded internet transactions from the patent coverage. This issue is now on appeal with the Federal Appeals Court.
"We are very excited about our new relationship with ABC which has developed and continues to develop innovative patents in the fields of communications and automated informational business systems. The Fax and Broadcast patents will expand E-Data's patent base and should enhance E-Data's revenues from patent licensing. We expect to license additional patents from ABC in the future," said Grant Robertson, President of E-Data.
"ABC looks forward to a long and profitable relationship with E-Data whose management team provides ABC strong patent licensing experience in Europe," said Dr. Charles Freeny, President of ABC. ABC is especially pleased with obtaining the non-exclusive license in the United States for the Freeny Patent as it applies to internet sales to home or office.
About E-Data Corporation. -- The primary business of the Company since December 1994, has been the ownership and licensing of the Freeny Patents which generally cover a process for the on-demand sale of products in the form of digital data from a host computer to any type of point of sale terminal. E-Data Corporation is traded publicly on the NASDAQ Bulletin Board under the symbol, "EDTA."
About Automated Business Companies, Inc. -- Automated Business Companies, Inc., is a privately held company based in Texas engaged in the development and licensing of automated systems associated with communication and information technology. Its President, Dr. Charles C. Freeny, Jr., is a noted engineer who has been issued numerous patents.
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements relating to such matters as anticipated financial performance, business prospects, technological developments, new products, research and development activities and similar matters. The Private Securities reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor for forward-looking statements. In order to comply with the terms of the safe harbor, the Company notes that a variety of factors could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results of other expenditures expressed in the Company's actual results to other expenditures expressed in the Company's forward-looking statements.
E-Data, Inc.'s, common stock is traded in the over-the-counter market under the trading symbol, "EDTA." To receive a current Corporate Profile and complete due diligence package on the Company, please call Fifth Avenue Communications at 1-800-992-6616 or visit their web site at: www.stocksfifthavenue.com or e-mail your request to: fifth@juno.com .
SOURCE E-Data, Inc.
/CONTACT: Grant Robertson, President of E-Data, Scotland, +44-1506-842-711, or fax, +44-1506-842-711; or Dr. Charles C. Freeny, Jr., President of Automated Business Companies, Texas, 972-571-3834, or fax, 214-631-3913; or Deana Wilson of Fifth Avenue Communications, New York, 800-992-6616, for E-Data/ |