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."