| SUFFERN,
NY, October 16, 2001 - Acticon Technologies LLC (Acticon)
has entered into a license agreement with Keithley Instruments,
Inc. (Keithley), a Cleveland, OH designer and manufacturer
of electronic testing and measurement devices. As part
of the agreement, Acticon stipulated to withdrawing its
patent infringement lawsuit against Keithley, filed two
weeks ago in New York. General Patent Corporation International
(GPCI), an intellectual property management firm headquartered
in Suffern, New York, represented Acticon in this transaction.
Acticon's "smart connector" patents cover
specific aspects of PC cards used in mobile computer
communication, networking, and instrumentation control.
More than 85% of PC cards used today are licensed under
the Acticon patents.
Under the license agreement, Keithley is paying a 3%
royalty for past and future sales of its PC cards. Keithley
also acknowledged that the Acticon patents are valid,
enforceable and infringed.
"This is the 28th license agreement that General
Patent has negotiated on behalf of Acticon for its smart
connector technology," noted Alexander Poltorak,
chairman and CEO of GPCI. "Although this technology,
and the patents protecting it, continue to be of significant
value to companies involved in computer connectivity
and communications, this technology is also widely used
for other applications, including electronic testing
and measurement devices. We are pleased to license the
Acticon patents to Keithley - a leading player in this
market," Dr. Poltorak added.
"Our patents have become a de facto standard in
the PCMCIA industry," stated Steven Farago, Acticon's
chief technologist and an inventor of the licensed patents.
"We are happy to extend a license to Keithley,
the first vendor of electronic testing and measurement
devices to license our patents. We hope other companies
in this industry will follow suit," Dr. Farago
added.
The Acticon patents had been extensively litigated
in the past. GPCI has brought six patent infringement
actions, all of which resulted in the defendants licensing
the Acticon patents. Three lawsuits are presently pending.
About Acticon Technologies
Acticon Technologies LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary
of General Patent Corporation International, is a computer
connectivity and communications technology company based
in Suffern, NY. Acticon's award-winning smart connector
technology is based on U.S. Patent Nos. 4,603,320 ("Connector
Interface"), 4,686,506 ("Multiple Connector
Interface"), 4,972,470 ("Programmable Connector")
and 4,543,450 ("Integrated Connector and Modem").
Acticon Technologies offers non-exclusive licenses under
these patents on attractive terms. For licensing terms
contact Paul Lerner at (845) 368-4000 x104.
About General Patent Corporation
General Patent Corporation International is a premier
contingency patent licensing and enforcement firm headquartered
in Suffern, NY. General Patent Corporation (GPC), an
affiliate of GPCI, is a leading intellectual property
management firm. GPC provides IP analysis and strategy,
IP audit and valuation, IP portfolio mining and management,
and technology transfer services to domestic and foreign
businesses, universities, research institutions and
individual inventors.
For further information on GPC and GPCI contact General
Patent Corporation, Montebello Park, 75 Montebello Road,
Suffern, NY 10901-3740; telephone: (845) 368-4000; e-mail:
info@gpci.com or visit www.patentclaim.com.
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