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Tessera to Request Full ITC Review of Administrative Law Judge s Initial Determination

^{Published on 2008-12-08 14:39:14 - Market Wire}
 

SAN JOSE, Calif.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Tessera Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSRA) today announced it will request a full review of the Initial Determination issued on December 1, 2008 by the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) in the International Trade Commission (ITC) Investigation No. 337-TA-605 brought by Tessera against certain wireless chip and handset manufacturers (Wireless ITC action).

In the Initial Determination, the ALJ agreed with Tessera on most of the material disputes between the parties and accepted Tessera's arguments on standing, claim construction, and priority date. The ALJ rejected each of the invalidity arguments raised by the respondents and ruled that Tessera's patents remain valid.

The ALJ disagreed, however, that the methodology used by one of Tessera's expert witnesses was sufficient to prove infringement. In notable contrast to this aspect of the ruling, the full ITC upheld the same witness's methodology as a basis for finding infringement in Investigation No. 337-TA-432 (SharpITC action, 2002). Additionally, the same witness's methodology and testimony were accepted by the three-judge tribunal in Tessera's recent arbitration against Amkor Technology, Inc.

"The Initial Determination affirms the validity and enforceability of our patents, which once again strengthens our position with our existing patent license customers," said Henry R. "Hank" Nothhaft, president and CEO of Tessera. "It also raises an important policy question for the ITC, namely, whether the methodology that has been accepted in other Tessera cases and that was validated by the ITC in the Sharp action in 2002 should continue to be followed. U.S. domestic businesses like Tessera that develop new technologies and drive economic growth through innovation rely on the consistent application of intellectual property laws and rulings by the ITC and other judicial authorities to protect their business, employees and customers."

Tessera's petition for review is currently due to be filed with the ITC on December 15, 2008. The respondents in the Wireless ITC action will be permitted to respond to Tessera's petition in their own filing. According to the current schedule for the investigation, the ITC Commission will decide whether to review the Initial Determination by January 30, 2009, and may request additional briefing at that time. If the Commission declines to review the Determination, it would become final and Tessera would be permitted to appeal the decision to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. If, on the other hand, the Commission elects to review the Initial Determination, the Commission's Final Determination accepting or rejecting a reversal would be scheduled to be issued by April 3, 2009, after which either Tessera or the respondents may appeal to the Federal Circuit.

About Tessera

Tessera is a leading provider of miniaturization technologies for the electronics industry. The company licenses its innovations, as well as delivers products based on these innovations to promote the development of the supply chain infrastructure, thus enabling manufacturers to get the right product to market, at the right time. Tessera is headquartered in San Jose, California. For information call 1.408.321.6000 or go to [ www.tessera.com ].

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements, which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ significantly from those projected, particularly with respect to Tessera's position with existing customers, litigation strategy, procedural schedules, and the actions of government entities. Material factors that may cause results to differ from the statements made include delays, setbacks or losses relating to our intellectual property or intellectual property litigations, or any invalidation or limitation of our key patents; fluctuations in our operating results due to the timing of new license agreements and royalties, or due to legal costs; changes in patent laws, regulation or enforcement, or other factors that might affect our ability to protect our intellectual property; the risk of a decline in demand for semiconductor products; failure by the industry to adopt our technologies; competing technologies; the future expiration of our patents; the future expiration of our license agreements and the cessation of related royalty income; the failure or refusal of licensees to pay royalties; failure to achieve the growth prospects and synergies expected from acquisition transactions; and delays and challenges associated with integrating acquired companies with our existing businesses. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. Tessera's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2008, include more information about factors that could affect the company's financial results.

Tessera and the Tessera logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Tessera Inc. or its affiliated companies in the United States and other countries. All other company, brand and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.