CUPERTINO, Calif. – Feb. 8, 2007 – Alliacense today announced that NEC Corporation has purchased a Moore Microprocessor Patent™ (MMP) Portfolio license from The TPL Group. As the first global manufacturer to become an MMP Portfolio licensee in 2007, NEC closely follows in the footsteps of HP, Casio, Fujitsu, Sony, Nikon, Seiko Epson, Pentax,Olympus, Kenwood, Agilent, Lexmark and Schneider Electric, all of whom purchased MMP licenses during 2006.
“After several years of exhaustive study and negotiation, we are pleased with NEC’s decision to purchase an MMP Portfolio license,” saidMac Leckrone, Alliacense President. “NEC becomes our inaugural MMP Portfolio licensee in 2007 as well as the first to capture a berth in the Networking and Communications industry segment.” He noted that the MMP Portfolio licensees in this segment, as well as future licensees in segments where early tiers have been captured, are subject to progressively higher royalty rates. “We are especially pleased that NEC has chosen to become TPL’s program partner instead of continuing as a defendant with Matsushita and Toshiba, against whom TPL has filed broad-based infringement claims about 15 months ago in the US District Court, Eastern District of Texas.”
According to Leckrone, MMP Portfolio patents encompass fundamental design techniques that enable higher performance and lower cost digital electronic systems ranging from cell phones and portable music players to communications infrastructure and medical equipment as well as automobiles, which today utilize dozens of microprocessors.
“As the number of our MMP Portfolio program partners continues to grow, so also has the business appeal of our MMP Portfolio Licensing Program,” said Leckrone. “Just as importantly, each MMP Portfolio licensee stands as a solid testament to the long overdue return on investment to Chuck Moore and The TPL Group for the substantial risk they have collectively endured over the past two decades in developing products and commercializing related IP.”
About the MMP Portfolio
Named after legendary inventor Charles “Chuck” Moore, the MMP Portfolio includes sevenUSpatents as well as their European and Japanese counterparts fundamental to the design of modern microprocessors, microcontrollers and system-on-chip devices. With origins that date back to 1980s collaboration between Moore and The TPL Group, the MMP Portfolio today is jointly owned by privately held The TPL Group and publicly held Patriot Scientific Corporation (PTSC.OB).
About NEC Corporation
NEC Corporation (NASDAQ: NIPNY) is one of the world’s leading providers of Internet, broadband network and enterprise business solutions dedicated to meeting the specialized needs of its diverse and global base of customers. NEC delivers tailored solutions in the key fields of computer, networking and electron devices, by integrating its technical strengths in IT and Networks, and by providing advanced semiconductor solutions through NEC Electronics Corporation. The NEC Group employs more than 150,000 people worldwide.
For additional information, visit www.nec.com.
About Alliacense
Alliacense is a TPL Group Enterprise executing best-in-class design and implementation of Intellectual Property (IP) licensing programs. As a cadre of IP licensing strategists, technology experts, and experienced business development/management executives, Alliacense focuses on expanding the awareness and value of TPL’s IP portfolios. Founded in 1988, The TPL Group has emerged as a coalition of high technology enterprises involved in the development, management and commercialization of IP assets as well as the design, manufacture and sales of proprietary products based on these same IP assets. For more information, visit www.alliacense.com.
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Alliacense and Moore Microprocessor Patent (MMP) are trademarks of Technology Properties Limited (TPL). All other trademarks belong to their respective owners.