Sony and Ampex have agreed to end their dispute over a
patent covering thumbnail images in digital image storage and
retrieval devices. Under the agreement, Sony will pay Ampex $40m
(£21m).
In return, Ampex will withdraw charges made against Sony with
the US International Trade Commission (ITC) and in the US Federal
District Court for the District of Delaware, and allow Sony to use
the patents in question in its products until April 2006.
After that time, the agreement provides for a royalty fee based
on the number of digital video tape recorders and digital still
cameras produced and the extent to which they rely on the
technology covered in the patents.
The litigation concerned US patent 4,821,121, said Aki Shimazu,
a spokeswoman for Sony in Tokyo. The patent, titled "Electronic
still store with high speed sorting and method of operation" covers
the use of thumbnail images and was filed by Ampex in 1987.
Ampex has also been pursuing other companies with respect to the
patent.
In October, the company said it had signed two licensing
agreements, one each with Canon and Sanyo Electric.
Combined, Ampex will receive about $11.6m covering royalties on
products made prior to 1 July this year and then running royalties
on subsequent products. Ampex said one of the licensees will also
pay it $13.5m on royalties for products sold through March 2006
although did not identify which company.
A day later, Ampex filed lawsuits against Eastman Kodak at the
ITC and the Delaware court over the same issue. It has threatened
Kodak with additional litigation if its unable to conclude a
licensing agreement.
Martyn Williams writes for IDG News Service