InterDigital Inc (IDCC)

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PRESS RELEASE: Via Licensing Begins Process to Form GEM Packaged Media Target Patent Licensing Pool; Call for Essential Patents for Joint Licensing of Patents for Devices Compliant With the Blu-ray Disc Read-Only Specification
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 24, 2006--
Via Licensing Corporation is pleased to issue the following call for essential patents reading on portions of the Globally Executable MHP (GEM) standard. Specifically, Via's patent call is for patents essential to the packaged media targets, enhanced profile and interactive profile, as identified in GEM 1.0.2 (ETSI TS 102 819 v.1.3.1). The Blu-ray Disc Association has selected the GEM 1.0.2 packaged media target profiles for the Blu-ray Disc read-only specification for use in Blu-ray Disc players.
The Globally Executable version of the Multimedia Home Platform (MHP), known as GEM 1.0.2, was developed with profiles that could be used by the next generation of optical storage media, players, and recorders.
"We look forward to developing a license for the practice of GEM packaged media target profiles. With our MHP and OCAP licensing programs under development and our recently launched TV-Anytime licensing program, we are excited to further serve the market in licensing patents for interactive television standards," said Ramzi Haidamus, President, Via Licensing Corporation.
Copies of the GEM 1.0.2 specification can be obtained from ETSI at www.etsi.org.
The goal of this call for patents is to identify the owners of patents that are essential for the practice of the GEM 1.0.2 standard. Essential patents are issued patents that have one or more claims that necessarily and unavoidably would be infringed by the implementation or use of the GEM standard. Patent owners are encouraged to submit patents for evaluation by January 31, 2006, to facilitate completion of the review prior to the initial meeting of the licensing committee.
Any entity that believes it has granted patents that are essential to the mandatory normative portions of GEM packaged media targets or enhanced or interactive profiles, and that wishes to participate in a group consisting of essential patent holders that will convene to discuss the commercialization terms for patents essential to the standard under fair, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory terms, is invited to contact Via Licensing Corporation for information about how to submit patents for evaluation.
Please request such information by sending an email to [e-mail], specifying your interest in making a submission for consideration of essentiality to the GEM 1.0.2 standard.
About Via Licensing Corporation
Via Licensing Corporation develops and administers patent licensing programs, frequently referred to as patent pools, on behalf of innovative technology companies and for the convenience of licensees. Licensing programs developed by Via Licensing are generally based on mandated or de facto technology standards. Current licensing programs offered by Via Licensing include IEEE 802.11(TM), MPEG-2 AAC, MPEG-4 Audio, DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale), TV-Anytime, and H.264/AVC. Licensing programs in development by Via Licensing include GEM Packaged Media Profile, NFC (Near Field Communications), IEEE Std 802.16(TM), DVB-MHP, and OCAP (OpenCable(TM) Application Platform). Via Licensing Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dolby Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE:DLB). For more information about Via Licensing Corporation, please visit www.vialicensing.com.

Certain statements in this press release, including statements relating to the expected availability of a joint patent license for technologies essential to the GEM standard and the availability of other joint patent licenses for interactive television standards programs, are "forward-looking statements" that are subject to risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations, and as a result of certain risks and uncertainties actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. The following important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements: risks associated with licensing technologies through patent pools; risks associated with licensing industry standards technologies; risks associated with developing proprietary technology in markets in which "open standards" are adopted; market acceptance of GEM-capable devices; rapid changes in interactive television technologies; and other risks detailed in Dolby Laboratories, Inc.'s Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports, including its annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2005. Dolby disclaims any obligation to update information contained in these forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

IEEE 802.11 and IEEE Std 802.16 are trademarks of the IEEE. OCAP and OpenCable are trademarks of CableLabs. S0616983
CONTACT: Via Licensing Corporation Jeanne Alford, 415-645-5245 [e-mail] SOURCE: Via Licensing Corporation Copyright Business Wire 2006
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