CUPERTINO, Calif. – Feb. 21, 2006 – Alliacense today announced that Casio Computer Co., Ltd. has purchased “system” licensing rights to the Moore Microprocessor Patent™ (MMP) Portfolio. Following a similar agreement reached with Hewlett-Packard last month, today’s announcement further substantiates the need for modern hardware manufacturers to secure MMP Portfolio licenses to cover the entire spectrum of their digital product lines. Terms of the Casio license were not disclosed.
“The intellectual property represented by the MMP Portfolio, and protected around the world, encompasses building blocks for virtually all digital products being designed and shipped today,” said Mac Leckrone, Alliacense president. “The depth and breadth of digital products exploiting MMP Portfolio design techniques is remarkable. We routinely find these techniques used in devices ranging from simple TV remote controls to sophisticated medical diagnostic equipment – from portable media players to complex internet ‘backbone’ hardware. Today’s automobiles have dozens of such devices.”
Leckrone noted that once digital hardware vendors recognize their broad reliance on the intellectual property protected by the MMP Portfolio, they appreciate the critical need to secure continued access to the fundamental MMP technologies. “System-level coverage is essential to maintaining product design freedom and avoiding supply-chain disruptions,” he explained. Alliacense also offers simple, royalty-free licenses to all semiconductor sector operations, worldwide.
Leckrone confirmed that the MMP Portfolio Licensing Program rewards first movers in their industry sectors with substantial discounts. “By design, our licensing structure enables nimble and forward-thinking system manufacturers to disadvantage their competitors.”
According to Leckrone, the purchase of MMP System Licenses by global system manufacturers such as HP and Casio has increased MMP licensing momentum. He reports that of the hundreds of companies Alliacense has contacted worldwide, dozens have begun to seek licensing arrangements. “The competition for early-round berths in many key market sectors is becoming intense.”
About The MMP
Named after legendary inventor Charles “Chuck” Moore, the Moore Microprocessor Patent™ Portfolio encompasses seven US patents as well as their European and Japanese counterparts. Protected through year of 2015, these patents protect techniques used in designing microprocessors, microcontrollers, Digital Signal Processor (DSPs), embedded processors and System-on-Chip (SoC) implementations.
In light of the early validation of MMP Portfolio by marquee chip-makers Intel and AMD in 2005, MMP licensing efforts are now focused on global system manufacturers.
About Alliacense
Alliacense is a TPL Group Enterprise offering best-in-class licensing program management, encompassing customer development and licensing execution. As a cadre of licensing experts, Alliacense also implements programs that expand awareness of other TPL Group portfolios that provide fundamental technologies to the electronics industry. The TPL Group is an intellectual property development and management firm founded in 1989. For more information, visit www.alliacense.com.
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Alliacense, Moore Microprocessor Patent, and MMP are trademarks of The TPL Group. All other trademarks belong to their respective owners.