Pioneer Electronics (USA) INC. Applauds Recent Rulings in Gemstar Patent Litigation Issued by U.S. District Court in Atlanta and by International Trade Commission

Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc., a leader in cable television digital set-top boxes, announces two favorable rulings in its patent litigation against Gemstar- TV Guide International, Inc. made by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia and by the U.S. International Trade Commission.

Today, the District Court in Atlanta rejected Gemstar's motion for summary judgment filed against Pioneer relating to Pioneer's Voyager BD-V1000 series set-top box. The court instead granted Pioneer's related summary judgement motion, concluding that Pioneer's Voyager BD-V1000 set-top box does not infringe any claims of U.S. patent numbers 5,508,815 and 5,568,272. The principal remaining issues for Pioneer relate to Pioneer's antitrust counterclaims against Gemstar.

Yesterday, the U.S. International Trade Commission upheld the earlier ruling by Administrative Law Judge Paul J. Luckern, along with the ITC staff's earlier recommendations, finding "no violation by any respondent of section 337." Among other things, the Commission affirmed the ALJ's determination that Gemstar failed to establish that Pioneer or any of the other respondents infringed Gemstar's patents.

"We feel vindicated by both rulings in our favor," said Paul Dempsey, president of the Business Solutions Division at Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. "We hope that this marks the end of this litigation, following the conclusions reached by the District Court and the Commission. Gemstar's track record as a litigious company has cost our company and the cable industry dearly. We can now all get back to focusing on providing the best products and services to our customers."

Dempsey added, "Pioneer remains willing in spite of its victory to establish a more positive relationship with Gemstar by resolving any remaining issues."

The U.S. International Trade Commission is an independent, nonpartisan, quasi-judicial federal agency providing trade expertise to both the legislative and executive branches of government, helping to determine the impact of imports on U.S. industries, and directing actions against certain unfair trade practices, such as patent, trademark and copyright infringement.