MSFT: Epson and Microsoft Announce a Cross-License of Their Patent Holdings

Seiko Epson Corp. (Epson) and Microsoft Corp. today announced a cross-licensing agreement that allows increased mutual access to each company’s respective patent portfolios. The agreement will enable each company to broaden its product offerings and deliver more comprehensive, cost-effective solutions. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

The expansion of the long-standing relationship between Epson and Microsoft will promote the exchange and implementation of patented technologies in many consumer and business electronics product areas.

“With this agreement we can share technologies that each company has invested in and bring the resulting success to the marketplace,” said Masataka Kamiyanagi, executive officer of Epson’s Intellectual Property Division. “We expect to expand our mutual relations in order to protect our intellectual properties on a global level, especially against counterfeit problems.”

“Epson is an important industry ally for us, and by sharing our intellectual property we can extend the reach of our respective innovations to our mutual customers,” said Marshall Phelps, corporate vice president and deputy general counsel for Microsoft. “Intellectual property licensing is a cornerstone of today’s software industry and essential for the development of comprehensive technology solutions.”

Epson is very active in filing and securing patents, and has maintained an outstanding position in the global patent rankings, particularly in Japan, where it was ranked third in published patents in 2005.

Microsoft has established a solid record of collaborating with other technology innovators and has entered into cross-licensing agreements with leading technology companies that include Cisco Systems Inc., NEC Corp., Nortel Networks, Siemens AG, SAP AG and Toshiba.

About Epson

Epson is a global leader in imaging products including printers, 3LCD projectors and small- and medium-sized LCDs. With an innovative and creative culture, Epson is dedicated to exceeding the vision and expectations of customers worldwide with products known for their superior quality, functionality, compactness and energy efficiency.

Epson is a network of 102,025 employees in 120 companies around the world, and is proud of its ongoing contributions to the global environment and to the communities in which it is located. Led by the Japan-based Seiko Epson Corp., the Group had consolidated sales of 1549.5 billion yen in fiscal 2005.