Re receipt of payment
September 24 2003 - 2:01AM
UK Regulatory
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
24 September 2003
SCIPHER PLC
Scipher receives US$1m for patent licensing services to Tulip Computers
The technology development and licensing company, Scipher plc ("Scipher" or
"the Company"), is pleased to announce that its Patent Licensing business, QED,
has received US$990,000 for licensing strategy services provided to its client,
Tulip Computers International, BV ("Tulip"), in their successful patent
infringement litigation against Dell Computer Corporation ("Dell").
Dutch computer manufacturer, Tulip, engaged QED to assist in licensing their
U.S. patent which covers personal computers with a particular motherboard
configuration. QED determined that the OptiPlex desktop computer family from
Dell infringed the patent. Dell refused to take a license under the patent and
Tulip subsequently filed a patent infringement action in U.S. federal district
court in Wilmington, Delaware.
QED assisted Tulip to engage Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi, a prominent U.S.
law firm, to represent Tulip on a contingent fee basis. The litigation was
resolved on June 30 2003, midway through the trial, with a settlement from Dell
to Tulip.
Dr Ken Gray, Chairman of Scipher said: "Today's announcement provides solid
evidence of QED's ability to generate significant returns from clients' IP
assets. The commercialisation of IP continues to be an important strategic
issue to technology companies and I am delighted at the prospects for further
success within QED as it evaluates an exciting range of important,
revenue-generating IP from its clients."
Enquiries
Scipher plc:
Dr Ken Gray Tel: 020 8848 6555
Michael Kendon Tel: 020 8848 6444
Financial Dynamics:
James Melville-Ross Tel: 020 7831 3113
Juliet Clarke Tel: 020 7831 3113
About QED
QED Intellectual Property Limited ("QED") is Scipher's Patent Licensing
business. With offices in the United Kingdom, United States and Japan, QED
provides intellectual property ("IP") strategy and licensing services to
international clients, assisting them to generate revenue and value from their
IP portfolios using QED's unique combination of commercial, technical, legal
and patent expertise. QED's services are augmented by yet2.com (www.yet2.com),
the world's largest internet-based marketplace for the exchange of technology.
Today, QED works with some of the worlds leading and most progressive
technology companies, including Bayer, British Telecom, Du Pont, Honeywell,
Procter and Gamble and Unilever, analysing and managing their IP portfolios and
helping them to capture the value in their IP assets. For more information on
QED, please visit the web site: www.qed-ip.com.
About Scipher
Scipher is a technology development and licensing company that delivers value
from IP in two principal ways:
* Product licensing and sale - commercialising Scipher-owned technology in
high growth markets through licensing or the sale of developed products
* Patent Licensing - building on Scipher's extensive experience on IP
management to create value for clients by exploiting their IP assets
through licensing.
Scipher's portfolio of advanced technology products and know-how covers the
markets for Displays, Secure Identification, Communications, 3D Sound and
Sensors. Approximately half of Scipher's revenues are earned outside the UK in
approximately 50 countries.
Scipher is backed by more than 70 years in advanced R&D, including developments
of such historic importance as stereo recording, television broadcasting and
the medical CT scanner, which in 1979 won a Nobel Prize for its inventor. In
2001, the MacRobert Award, the highest UK accolade for innovation, continued
this record of achievement by recognising Scipher's outstanding 3D Sound
technology. For more information on Scipher, visit the website: www.scipher.com
Registered Office
Scipher plc
Dawley Road
Hayes
Middlesex
UB3 1HH
Tel: +44 (0)20 8848 6555
Fax: +44 (0)20 8848 6677
www.scipher.com
Registered in England and Wales
No. 3248274
END