Funai, Polariod Reach TV License Deal

By Greg Tarr -- TWICE, 8/5/2008

Osaka, Japan —Funai Electric said Tuesday that it has reached a patent licensing agreement with Polaroid and the Petters Group Worldwide on certain digital television technology under its control.

As a result of the agreement, Funai said it will be move to dismiss Polaroid and Petters Group from a patent infringement suit before the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. Funai and its U.S. sales subsidiary have also dropped Polaroid and Petters Group from an Investigation at the International Trade Commission.

Funai said the agreement with Polaroid and Petters Group brings the number of licensees of its digital television patent portfolio to 15.

The technology in question relates to technologies it controls that are included in the ATSC standards as well as other digital television technologies. The Federal Communications Commission’s regulations mandate that television sets sold in the United States must be compatible with certain ATSC standards, Funai pointed out.

In addition to its license and settlement with Polaroid, Funai earlier this year entered license and settlement agreements with International Reliance Corporation and International Norcent Technology, which were similarly dismissed from further litigation and investigation.

Funai said 11 companies remain in the International Trade Commission investigation, which will continue.