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Technology Stocks : WDC/Sandisk Corporation -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Art Bechhoefer who wrote (15326)	10/4/2000 5:47:06 PM
From: Cooters	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 60323

Art, <<Both companies are producing flash memory units using each other's patents--a situation that eliminates the need for either to pay royalties to the other.>> I still disagree. Net royalties payments can and do(QCOM/ERICY) occur in these situations. No need to argue the point further, though. Next one to talk to SNDK IR can ask. Cooters

To: Art Bechhoefer who wrote (15326)	10/4/2000 6:31:17 PM
From: Ausdauer	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 60323

Art, I don't think anyone knows the details for sure. Hitachi and SanDisk "Both companies are producing flash memory units using each other's patents-- a situation that eliminates the need for either to pay royalties to the other." I still see the agreement as a renewal of the "binary" flash patent exchange and an extension to include MLC. Other details are not divulged. Some proprietary technology from either company is not exchanged. Other terms were not disclosed. Eli does not mention anything about SanDisk using Hitachi's MLC technology. I think this may appear to many as being picayune, but it is not mentioned here... Eli Harari, SanDisk President and CEO, said, "SanDisk is happy to announce the signing of this important flash memory patent cross-licensing agreement with Hitachi, one of the leading suppliers of flash memory storage cards. Under this agreement, SanDisk recognizes the value of Hitachi's extensive semiconductor patents, while Hitachi recognizes the value of SanDisk's fundamental MLC flash memory patents. Both companies believe that the future of flash cards for the new post-PC consumer electronics markets, such as digital imaging, music and video lies with MLC flash technology." Are you concluding that SanDisk's relationship with Hitachi is no longer revenue bearing? How do you get from point A to point Z without knowing the details of the agreement? What happened to points B, C, D, E, F, G...? Also, what "units" are we talking about here? "There was a qualifier clause in the press release, which leads one to believe that SanDisk might have some key patents that it is NOT cross licensing, so that a SNDK unit might have some different characteristics from a Hitachi unit." Aus