Cooperating Licensees Receive Two-Month Extension on Favorable Licensing Terms
ALAMEDA, Calif., July 5 /PRNewswire/ --
Geoworks Corporation (Nasdaq: GWRX), a pioneer in mobile data communications
services and technologies, today announced that, as anticipated, it has
implemented new licensing terms beginning July 1, 2000 for companies that use
its Flexible User Interface patent (US Patent #5,327,529). Geoworks
recognizes by the number of requests it has received for additional
information that the licensing program is a complex matter. As a result, the
company is offering an extension of the previous licensing terms through
September 1, 2000 to any company that contacts Geoworks by July 31, 2000.
Companies currently negotiating license terms will continue to receive the
current introductory annual rate of $20,000 and will not be held responsible
for any past infringement of the patent if the license is completed by
September 1, 2000. Companies that do not become licensees by September 1 will
be offered a licensing fee of $100,000 for a 3-year contract and may remain
liable for any past infringement of the Geoworks Flex UI patent. Certain
server license rates will not be changed. Applicable fees may also be waived
for smaller companies.
Geoworks initially announced its licensing program in January 2000 in
accordance with the WAP Forum's Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) guidelines.
This licensing program is intended to foster the growth and success of the
emerging WAP/WML markets, while recognizing the significant investment
Geoworks incurred in developing its patented technology.
To contact Geoworks for the extension, please call Antonette Ginochio at
510-814-5710. Companies that wish to sign up for the licensing program can
request a license on the Geoworks web site at http://www.geoworks.com . The
site includes brief outlines of applicable licensing terms and a discussion of
how the Flexible User Interface patent may apply to companies that create
WAP-based products and services.
About Geoworks
Geoworks Corporation is a pioneer in wireless data communications services
and technologies for the business and consumer markets. The company's mission
is to enable mobile Internet access in the business to business and business
to consumer markets. Geoworks' Mobile ASP(TM) solution utilizes a flexible
combination of its proprietary Premion Server+(TM) technology and its mobile
media expertise to enable businesses to reach their mobile customers with
relevant and timely information. By licensing its essential Intellectual
Property Rights for the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP), Geoworks plays a
central role in advancing the worldwide market for mobile devices that enable
people to easily and instantly access and interact with information and
services. Based in Alameda, California, the company has international offices
in Japan and the United Kingdom, and can be found on the World Wide Web at
http://www.geoworks.com .
In keeping with U.S. law, Geoworks notes that this press release includes
forward-looking statements, including the emergence of, and Geoworks'
participation in, the mobile data and technology licensing and services
markets and future Flexible User Interface licensing terms. Actual results
may vary significantly due to various risks and uncertainties. Those include,
but are not limited to, the following: i) the mobile data and technology
services market may not emerge to the degree or timing anticipated; and ii)
new technologies and new services are inherently subject to development,
timing and consumer acceptance risks. Additional information is available in
the Risk Factors and Business discussions in the Company's Forms 10-K, 10-Q
and other filings available from the Company or from the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
SOURCE Geoworks Corporation
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Related links:
http://www.geoworks.com
CONTACT:
Kristy Jarosh, of Red Whistle Communications,
503-332-0204, or kjarosh@redwhistle.com, for Geoworks
Corporation; or Bob Bogard of Geoworks, 510-814 5811, or
bbogard@geoworks.com
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