Seizures at IBC show to enforce MPEG Audio patents
Amsterdam, September 13, 2005 - SISVEL obtained an order from
the District Court of Amsterdam, The Netherlands, to seize the
set-top-boxes displayed at the IBC show by a number of companies
not licensed under the MPEG Audio patents.
SISVEL S.p.A. and its U.S. subsidiary Audio MPEG, Inc. have
exclusive worldwide rights to license the patents owned by
Philips, France Telecom and IRT covering essential elements of
the ISO/IEC 11172-3 and ISO/IEC 13818-3 MPEG Standards directed
to MPEG Audio layers 1, 2 and 3 (MP3) technology.
In response to the continued patent infringement and persistent
refusal to obtain a license under the MPEG Audio patents, on
September 12, 2005 SISVEL filed a request before the District
Court of Amsterdam to get permission to seize the set top boxes
conforming to the MPEG Audio Standard of Force Electronics A/S
(Norway), Homecast Co., Ltd. (Korea), Shenzen Coship Electronics
Co., Ltd. (China), Shenzhen Success Digital Technology Co., Ltd.
(China). The Amsterdam Court ordered the seizure of the set-top
boxes of these companies that were displayed at their respective
booths at the IBC fair in Amsterdam.
On September 13, 2005 the Amsterdam bailiff together with
SISVEL's representatives executed the Court order, by seizing
and removing all set-top-boxes from the booths of the
abovementioned companies.
Since the Chinese companies did not cooperate with the bailiff
and tried to evade the Court order, the bailiff was forced to
ask the Dutch police to intervene.
"SISVEL's actions were necessary to enforce its intellectual
property rights and to safeguard all current licensees from
unlawful competitors. Companies investing in research and
development are to be reimbursed for their investment and are to
be encouraged to continue their important development work,"
said Mr. Roberto Dini, the founder of SISVEL.