Jul 1 2008
Unidym, Inc, a majority-owned subsidiary of Arrowhead Research Corporation, announced today that MDA Co., LTD of South Korea has purchased an option to negotiate a future intellectual property (IP) license to Unidym's extensive carbon nanotube patent portfolio. MDA designs and manufactures flexible components and interconnects for electronic devices such as cell phones.
Unidym's recently launched Patent License Option Program allows both research companies and companies in the product development stage, such as MDA, to develop their CNT-based products while deferring the cost of a full commercial license to Unidym's extensive patent portfolio. By purchasing an option early, organizations can ensure that the appropriate patent license will be available to them when they are ready to move into a production phase - whether or not they purchase their nanotubes from Unidym.
Unidym's current patent portfolio contains more than 200 foreign and domestic patents and patent applications, including more than 70 issued U.S. patents. The portfolio includes fundamental patents covering carbon nanotube compositions, production (synthesis, purification and dispersion) and use in many different application areas, including electronics, composite materials, energy storage/generation, medical devices and drug delivery. Details of Unidym's patent portfolio and its licensing programs can be obtained from Unidym's corporate website.
"MDA is looking to incorporate carbon nanotubes in its various products and has decided to purchase an option to license our broad patent portfolio" noted Arthur Swift, Unidym's president and CEO. "Our license option program allows MDA to proceed knowing that when the time comes to move its work from development into production, they will be able to purchase a license to the relevant intellectual property - whether it ultimately decides to synthesize nanotubes itself or purchase nanotubes from another supplier."
"MDA started sampling carbon nanotubes from Unidym some time ago," said Henry Yoo, MDA's vice president of Research and Development. "We see several possible applications in our product line for this technology and may need various pieces of Unidym's IP. As we are still in a development stage, Unidym's license option program is the perfect solution us: for a nominal fee it provides MDA with the assurance that, when we move to volume production, we will be able to purchase a license to those portions of Unidym's intellectual property most relevant to MDA."