A trial could begin by March 2007 in Nano-Proprietary’s suit alleging Canon violated terms of a licensing agreement for part of the technology behind its surface conductor electron emitter displays (SEDs), Nano-Proprietary said in a 10-Q report filed with the SEC. Nano-Proprietary sued Canon last year (CED April 13 p2) alleging it violated an agreement signed in 1999 by improperly transferring patent rights to Toshiba. The Canon-Toshiba joint venture, SED Inc., is expected to ship a 55W display later this year. The case against Canon hinges on 2 patents granted Nano-Proprietary in 1997 and 1998 covering techniques for making a carbon nanotube-based field emitter and triode structure flat panel display employing flat-field emission cathodes. A federal judge in Oct. dismissed Nano-Proprietary’s claims for tortuous interference and violations of the Latham Act, but kept its breach of covenant and fair dealings allegations intact, the SEC filing says. Meanwhile, Nano-Proprietary said it sold 750,000 shares in Feb., raising $1.5 million that will provide the company with liquidity until it breaks even. Nano-Proprietary’s Applied Nanotech unit is expected to generate revenue of $5 million this year including $1.7 million from govt. contracts, it said. The company can achieve cash flow breakeven with revenue of $6 million, it said. Nano-Proprietary had a $2.7 million revenue backlog as of Dec. 31, most of that from 6 govt. programs, the company said. Nano-Proprietary’s net loss for the fiscal year ended Dec. 31 widened to $4.66 million from $4.61 million a year earlier as revenues rose to $565,500 from $382,522. The revenue included $208,211 in expense reimbursement under U.S. govt. contracts, down from $305,721 a year earlier. It ended the year with $2.5 million in commitments for additional govt. contracts. Nano-Proprietary completed development of a nanotube-based 25” color TV last fall and has said it expects to start pilot production this year (CED Dec 19 p3).
The Senate Commerce Committee will review the $89.4 billion AT&T-BellSouth merger, according to a statement released Mon. from the committee. Chmn. Stevens (R-Alaska) and committee staff will examine the merger during coming weeks, “a process which will include meetings with involved parties,” the statement said. Several Hill sources said the committee’s March 15 hearing on competition and convergence could be a forum for reviewing the buyout.
Conventional wisdom on the AT&T-BellSouth merger is that it faces a smooth regulatory path, especially in light of recent mega-mergers led by SBC’s takeover of AT&T late last year. But questions remain about how the arrival of Comr. Robert McDowell could affect FCC handling of the merger.
GENEVA -- Strong Internet patent quality was urged by experts and lobbyists at an Open Forum on the Substantive Patent Law Treaty (SPLT) at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) here last week. The SPLT was intended to become a Treaty to harmonize patent law on a global scale by the U.S., EU and Japan, but resulted in heated discussions about patent standards and subjects for patentabilty, including the much-discussed software patents. Some developing countries outrightly rejected the need for harmonization, claiming there are flaws in the existing systems, especially the U.S. patent system.
Broadband providers are growing increasingly concerned that FCC attention to protecting customer proprietary network information (CPNI) means a pending rulemaking probably will produce a requirement that they protect such data. Cramming, slamming and truth in billing also were raised in a notice of proposed rulemaking the FCC released in Sept.
Broadband providers are growing increasingly concerned that FCC attention to protecting customer proprietary network information (CPNI) means a pending rulemaking probably will produce a requirement that they protect such data. Cramming, slamming and truth in billing also were raised in a notice of proposed rulemaking the FCC released in Sept.
Staffing problems at the Dept. of Homeland Security and the National Cyber Security Div. (NCSD) hamper cybersecurity efforts, said the annual report by staff Democrats on the House Homeland Security Committee. The report gives DHS a “C” for cybersecurity, science and technology, and a “D-” for critical infrastructure protection. Privacy protection got a “B,” with praise for former Chief Privacy Officer (CPO) Nuala Kelly’s outreach, but flak for the job’s lack of autonomy. Much of the 75-page report is based on Govt. Accountability Office (GAO) evaluations and private-sector criticisms previously reported in the press.
Despite improvement in EU-U.S. trade, roadblocks remain to trans-Atlantic business related to telecom and intellectual property (IP) rights, the European Commission (EC) said Wed. in its latest annual report on U.S. barriers to trade and investment. The U.S. has made “significant commitments” on European service provider market access, but the EU “remains concerned” about steep hurdles European and foreign-owned firms still face, the Commission said. The report emerged as the sides agreed to lift longstanding public procurement sanctions, some involving European telecom.
Despite improvement in EU-U.S. trade, roadblocks remain to trans-Atlantic business related to telecom and intellectual property (IP) rights, the European Commission (EC) said Wed. in its latest annual report on U.S. barriers to trade and investment. The U.S. has made “significant commitments” on European service provider market access, but the EU “remains concerned” about steep hurdles European and foreign-owned firms still face, the Commission said. The report emerged as the sides agreed to lift longstanding public procurement sanctions, some involving European telecom.
The Senate Commerce Committee plans to take up the House indecency bill (HR-310) that increases fines for broadcasters sometime in the spring, staff dir. Lisa Sutherland told an NAB legislative conference Tues. The measure could include a provision that Sen. Burns (R-Mont.) proposed as an amendment in the 2004 Defense Dept. Appropriations bill that would take into account the size of broadcasters when levying fines. The House bill, passed last year in the aftermath of the Janet Jackson Super Bowl flap (CD Feb 17 p1), would raise maximum fines on broadcasters to $500,000 from $32,500.