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Message: Press Release-Jan 15th-Wi-Lan Signs More V-Chip Licenses
| Wi-LAN Signs V-Chip Licenses for the NTIA Converter Box Program |
| 15 Jan 2008 09:13 ET MarketwireWi-LAN Inc.January 15, 2008 - 09:13:00 AMWi-LAN Signs V-Chip Licenses for the NTIA Converter Box ProgramOTTAWA, CANADA--(Marketwire - Jan. 15, 2008) - Wi-LAN Inc. (TSX:WIN)("Wi-LAN"), a leading technology innovation and licensing company, todayannounced that 2 additional manufacturers expected to participate in theNational Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA) digitaltelevision converter box coupon program have signed license agreements for itsU.S. V-chip Patent. Digital Stream Technology Inc. (Digital Stream), themanufacturer of the first coupon eligible converter box approved by the NTIAprogram, and Powerray Co., Ltd, (Powerray) join a list of licensees that areexpected to play an important role in the transition to digital television inthe United States. The agreements provide for the payment of running royaltiesfor the life of the Patent.Digital Stream manufactures digital set-top boxes, digital television PCturner cards and USB boxes with high definition quality signal receivingcapabilities for customers around the world. Powerray is a digital set-top boxmanufacturer.In the first phase of the converter box coupon program, any resident of theUnited States can order 2 coupons, valued at $40 each, to be used toward thepurchase of an approved digital-to-analog converter box. The converter boxeswill allow residents to continue using televisions that would otherwise not beable to receive free over-the-air television when analog broadcast ceases inthe United States on February 17, 2009. The United States government haspledged up to $1.5 billion to provide over 33 million coupons. The NTIA begandistributing coupons on January 1, 2008 and subsequently announced that it hadreceived requests for over 2.4 million coupons by January 9, 2008.Wi-LAN has signed license agreements for its U.S. V-chip Patent with companiesresponsible for the manufacture of at least 14 converter models. Wi-LAN'sV-chip licensing team is identifying and in talks with manufacturers of theremaining approved models as well as manufacturers of several other modelsthat are expected to be approved in the coming weeks."Our V-chip licensing team has been very productive since this programstarted," said Jim Skippen, President & CEO. "We expect to be well placed inthis market by the time the NTIA converter boxes become available next monthin an estimated 15-thousand retail establishments."Other manufacturers who have licensed Wi-LAN's U.S. V-chip Patent and areexpecting to supply product for the NTIA program include LG Electronics Inc.,Falcon Digital Co., Ltd., Michley Electronics Inc., Shenzhen MTC Co., Ltd,Good Mind Innovation Co., Ltd., Zhejiang Tianle Digital Electric Co., Ltd.,Dongguan Contel Electronics Co., Ltd., PCT International Inc., and ManhattanDigital.119 licenses for Wi-LAN's Canadian or U.S. V-chip Patents have been signedwith electronics manufacturers in Korea, Japan, Taiwan, China, Thailand,Singapore, Hong Kong, Denmark, Canada and the United States.Wi-LAN has a large and growing portfolio of more than 280 issued or pendingpatents.About Wi-LANWi-LAN, founded in 1992, is a leading technology innovation and licensingcompany. Our portfolio of patented inventions applies to a wide range ofelectronics and communications products. Some of the fundamental technologiescovered by Wi-LAN's patents include: CDMA, DOCSIS, DSL, GSM/EDGE, V-chip,Wi-Fi and WiMAX. Wi-LAN has licensed its intellectual property to a growingnumber of companies around the world. For more information: www.wi-lan.com.Forward-looking InformationCertain statements in this release, other than statements of historical fact,may include forward-looking information that involves various risks anduncertainties. These may include, without limitation, statements based oncurrent assumptions and expectations involving a number of risks anduncertainties related to all aspects of the wireless and wirelinecommunications industry and the global economy. These risks and uncertaintiesinclude, but are not restricted to: the almost exclusive reliance of theCompany on licensing its patent portfolio to generate revenues and cash flows;that the Company may be required to establish the enforceability of itspatents in court to obtain material licensing revenues; that the Company willneed to acquire or develop new patents to continue to grow its business; thatthe Company requires investment to translate its intellectual propertyposition into sustainable profit in the market; that the Company is dependenton the performance of its key officers and employees; that changes in patentlegislation or in the interpretation or application of patent litigation couldmaterially adversely affect the Company; and that the Company has and may makeacquisitions of products, technologies or businesses which could materiallyadversely affect the Company. These risks and uncertainties may cause actualresults to differ from information contained herein, when estimates andassumptions have been used to measure and report results. There can be noassurance that such forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate.Actual results and future events could differ materially from thoseanticipated in such statements. These and all subsequent written and oralforward-looking statements are based on the estimates and opinions ofmanagement on the dates they are made and expressly qualified in theirentirety by this notice. The Company assumes no obligation to updateforward-looking statements should circumstances or management's estimates oropinions change.All trademarks and brands mentioned in this release are the property of theirrespective owners.FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Wi-LAN Inc. Tyler Burns Director, Investor Relations and Communications613-688-4330 C: 613-697-0367 tburns@wi-lan.com |
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