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Technology Stocks : Ampex Corporation (AEXCA) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Alan Cassaro who wrote (9222)	6/15/1999 5:12:00 PM
From: Michael Olds	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 17679

Alan, One reason for it being kept secret we could hope was the case: A new technology that being known would point in a certain direction. Or a variation on that, an old technology that being picked up by a company known for a certain type of product, would show a new direction for that product.

To: Alan Cassaro who wrote (9222)	6/15/1999 5:19:00 PM
From: Michael Olds	Respond to of 17679

>The most significant thing going on in the cable industry right now is the proliferation of the digital set-top box," said Gerald Levin, chief executive of Time Warner. >The new wave of digital set-top devices coupled with upgraded cable network equipment has increased the number of channels operators can offer, and has pushed them one step closer to offering video on demand (VOD). Levin said he expects the cable companies to offer video on demand within the next five years. Huge storage demand is sure to follow!

To: Alan Cassaro who wrote (9222)	6/15/1999 5:29:00 PM
From: WAI	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 17679

Al, From the PR: Under the terms of the agreement the identity of the licensee was not disclosed. If <fill in your favorite consumer electronics manufacturer> requested this secrecy, I can't imagine that it would be a deal breaker for Ampex. Heck, maybe they threw us a few bucks to keep the secret. Cheers, William

To: Alan Cassaro who wrote (9222)	6/15/1999 5:40:00 PM
From: flickerful	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 17679

al... non-disclosure to a licensee might also be seen as the technological equivalent to a " secret ingredients " edge... even if it's not a novel application: it may behoove the user to not reveal its sources to competitors. flick

To: Alan Cassaro who wrote (9222)	6/15/1999 6:10:00 PM
From: Hal Campbell	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 17679

<< This is a bit of the old arrogance that's always been typical of AXC, our "father's" company.......Not very "interactive" with shareholders, right? AC.>> Al, I used to think that too. Why the general secrecy - today's announcement is quite unusual for Ampex, BTW? Then I realized that AXC has to take apart stuff and scramble like hell to collect anything. And for a small company that financially demanding effort almost certainly means that, for any given patent, the ones who pay are usually a subset of the ones that use. So you really don't want the ones that pay to know that others are using without paying, do you? Why they may go off and do a Mitsubishi and just quit paying ( as apparently Mitsubishi did in the two claims they recently settled on for that unknown lump sum). I do not envy the patent and discovery and legal and negotiating teams at AXC their job...and I thank them for their productive efforts over the years ...almost makes me get all rah rah sis boom ba when I think of it. ( Karen ALWAYS makes me feel that way <g>) Now all of these factors may not be in play this time. this may be a new tech. We sure do not know it is Mitsubishi...but it might be. The Yahoo board seems to be guessing Phillips. This patent may be old or new...for anything from a brand new application to some old patent stealing finally resolved. It is intriguing though. Mighty intriguing. With such a broad patent portfolio SOOOO many possibilities..always have been. Some could lead to amazing growth all by themselves...the rest just cushion the operation. Maybe there will be more good news down the line. BTW Ridge.......other than just way too many posts to read everyday ...wade through the FYs and Yahoo ain't too bad. Some excellent posters ....funny and informative. And they have unearthed some interesting facts. CuriousWalker found today that TVontheWeb was going to a high speed connection for one instance...( but I only have time to read one board regularly too - do like this one ...to each their own )