Celestron settles with Meade

From Businesswire.com 7/8/2004:

IRVINE, Calif. & TORRANCE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 8, 2004--Meade
Instruments Corp. (Nasdaq:MEAD) and Celestron Acquisition, LLC announced
that they have reached an agreement under which all outstanding litigation
between the parties has been mutually resolved.


Under the terms of the agreement, Celestron acknowledges the validity of
Meade's claims to two utility patents, including the "level-North" alignment
technology for computerized telescopes, as well as a patented architecture
by which several microprocessors in a computerized telescope optimally
communicate with one another. In connection with the agreement, Meade
acknowledges the validity of Celestron's claim to two design patents and one
utility patent covering certain telescope tripods and mounts. Celestron also
transfers to Meade ownership of a patent that Celestron originally claimed
to cover "level-North" technology.

The settlement includes a non-exclusive licensing agreement under which,
effective August 15, 2004, and continuing for the life of the patent, Meade
will grant Celestron a license to utilize Meade's patents. Celestron will
pay to Meade royalties equal to the greater of $100-per-unit or 8% of
Celestron's net revenue from sales of all telescopes that utilize the
"level-North" technology. Celestron in turn grants Meade royalty-free,
non-exclusive licenses for the rights to use the designs and technology
covered by Celestron's patents.

[continued]

http://home.businesswire.com/portal/... 8&newsLang=en

Did Celestron just get scr#^ed ?

Do you think JMI has to pay Meade for 'level-north' ? Hasn't
'level-north' been around for a few hundred years ???

Eric.


Edward wrote:
From Businesswire.com 7/8/2004:

/snip/
The settlement includes a non-exclusive licensing agreement under which,
effective August 15, 2004, and continuing for the life of the patent, Meade
will grant Celestron a license to utilize Meade's patents. Celestron will
pay to Meade royalties equal to the greater of $100-per-unit or 8% of
Celestron's net revenue from sales of all telescopes that utilize the
"level-North" technology. Celestron in turn grants Meade royalty-free,
non-exclusive licenses for the rights to use the designs and technology
covered by Celestron's patents.

http://home.businesswire.com/portal/... 8&newsLang=en

Did Celestron just get scr#^ed ?

Do you think JMI has to pay Meade for 'level-north' ? Hasn't
'level-north' been around for a few hundred years ???

Eric.


Edward wrote:
From Businesswire.com 7/8/2004:

/snip/
The settlement includes a non-exclusive licensing agreement under which,
effective August 15, 2004, and continuing for the life of the patent, Meade
will grant Celestron a license to utilize Meade's patents. Celestron will
pay to Meade royalties equal to the greater of $100-per-unit or 8% of
Celestron's net revenue from sales of all telescopes that utilize the
"level-North" technology. Celestron in turn grants Meade royalty-free,
non-exclusive licenses for the rights to use the designs and technology
covered by Celestron's patents.

http://home.businesswire.com/portal/... 8&newsLang=en

Let's see...

Yes.

Maybe...precedence has now been set.

It sure has (BTW, I have a patent in the work for wiping your a$$ so expect
to be paying me royalties soon...same validity as Meade's BS patent ;-)

Cheers,
Jeff


"Eric" wrote in message
news:rKGIc.38245$eO.18215@edtnps89...
Did Celestron just get scr#^ed ?

Do you think JMI has to pay Meade for 'level-north' ? Hasn't
'level-north' been around for a few hundred years ???

Eric.


Edward wrote:
From Businesswire.com 7/8/2004:

/snip/
The settlement includes a non-exclusive licensing agreement under which,
effective August 15, 2004, and continuing for the life of the patent,
Meade
will grant Celestron a license to utilize Meade's patents. Celestron
will
pay to Meade royalties equal to the greater of $100-per-unit or 8% of
Celestron's net revenue from sales of all telescopes that utilize the
"level-North" technology. Celestron in turn grants Meade royalty-free,
non-exclusive licenses for the rights to use the designs and technology
covered by Celestron's patents.


http://home.businesswire.com/portal/... 8&newsLang=en

Let's see...

Yes.

Maybe...precedence has now been set.

It sure has (BTW, I have a patent in the work for wiping your a$$ so expect
to be paying me royalties soon...same validity as Meade's BS patent ;-)

Cheers,
Jeff


"Eric" wrote in message
news:rKGIc.38245$eO.18215@edtnps89...
Did Celestron just get scr#^ed ?

Do you think JMI has to pay Meade for 'level-north' ? Hasn't
'level-north' been around for a few hundred years ???

Eric.


Edward wrote:
From Businesswire.com 7/8/2004:

/snip/
The settlement includes a non-exclusive licensing agreement under which,
effective August 15, 2004, and continuing for the life of the patent,
Meade
will grant Celestron a license to utilize Meade's patents. Celestron
will
pay to Meade royalties equal to the greater of $100-per-unit or 8% of
Celestron's net revenue from sales of all telescopes that utilize the
"level-North" technology. Celestron in turn grants Meade royalty-free,
non-exclusive licenses for the rights to use the designs and technology
covered by Celestron's patents.


http://home.businesswire.com/portal/... 8&newsLang=en

Did Celestron just get scr#^ed ?

Welcome to America, land of 'not what is right vs. wrong, but land of who
has the money to buy the best lawyers'!!

If your not use to it by now, you better prepare yourself.

Actually, it sounds like they both had bites take out of them, Celestron's
was a bigger bite but both took a hit.

F Marion

Did Celestron just get scr#^ed ?

Welcome to America, land of 'not what is right vs. wrong, but land of who
has the money to buy the best lawyers'!!

If your not use to it by now, you better prepare yourself.

Actually, it sounds like they both had bites take out of them, Celestron's
was a bigger bite but both took a hit.

F Marion

With all the "Grant" giving it sounds to me like they have found a way to
practically merge w/o all the federal unfair advantage and monopoly B.S.

CraigW;o)

"Edward" wrote in message
nk.net...
From Businesswire.com 7/8/2004:

IRVINE, Calif. & TORRANCE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 8, 2004--Meade
Instruments Corp. (Nasdaq:MEAD) and Celestron Acquisition, LLC announced
that they have reached an agreement under which all outstanding litigation
between the parties has been mutually resolved.


Under the terms of the agreement, Celestron acknowledges the validity of
Meade's claims to two utility patents, including the "level-North"
alignment
technology for computerized telescopes, as well as a patented architecture
by which several microprocessors in a computerized telescope optimally
communicate with one another. In connection with the agreement, Meade
acknowledges the validity of Celestron's claim to two design patents and
one
utility patent covering certain telescope tripods and mounts. Celestron
also
transfers to Meade ownership of a patent that Celestron originally claimed
to cover "level-North" technology.

The settlement includes a non-exclusive licensing agreement under which,
effective August 15, 2004, and continuing for the life of the patent,
Meade
will grant Celestron a license to utilize Meade's patents. Celestron will
pay to Meade royalties equal to the greater of $100-per-unit or 8% of
Celestron's net revenue from sales of all telescopes that utilize the
"level-North" technology. Celestron in turn grants Meade royalty-free,
non-exclusive licenses for the rights to use the designs and technology
covered by Celestron's patents.

[continued]


http://home.businesswire.com/portal/...iewId=news_vie
w&newsId=20040708005268&newsLang=en

With all the "Grant" giving it sounds to me like they have found a way to
practically merge w/o all the federal unfair advantage and monopoly B.S.

CraigW;o)

"Edward" wrote in message
nk.net...
From Businesswire.com 7/8/2004:

IRVINE, Calif. & TORRANCE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 8, 2004--Meade
Instruments Corp. (Nasdaq:MEAD) and Celestron Acquisition, LLC announced
that they have reached an agreement under which all outstanding litigation
between the parties has been mutually resolved.


Under the terms of the agreement, Celestron acknowledges the validity of
Meade's claims to two utility patents, including the "level-North"
alignment
technology for computerized telescopes, as well as a patented architecture
by which several microprocessors in a computerized telescope optimally
communicate with one another. In connection with the agreement, Meade
acknowledges the validity of Celestron's claim to two design patents and
one
utility patent covering certain telescope tripods and mounts. Celestron
also
transfers to Meade ownership of a patent that Celestron originally claimed
to cover "level-North" technology.

The settlement includes a non-exclusive licensing agreement under which,
effective August 15, 2004, and continuing for the life of the patent,
Meade
will grant Celestron a license to utilize Meade's patents. Celestron will
pay to Meade royalties equal to the greater of $100-per-unit or 8% of
Celestron's net revenue from sales of all telescopes that utilize the
"level-North" technology. Celestron in turn grants Meade royalty-free,
non-exclusive licenses for the rights to use the designs and technology
covered by Celestron's patents.

[continued]


http://home.businesswire.com/portal/...iewId=news_vie
w&newsId=20040708005268&newsLang=en

Eric wrote:
Did Celestron just get scr#^ed ?

Not Celestron. WE just got screwed.

Every "unit" we buy will be $100 more expensive, in order to pay Meade
their pound of flesh.


Do you think JMI has to pay Meade for 'level-north' ? Hasn't
'level-north' been around for a few hundred years ???

Eric.


Edward wrote:

From Businesswire.com 7/8/2004:

/snip/

The settlement includes a non-exclusive licensing agreement under which,
effective August 15, 2004, and continuing for the life of the patent,
Meade
will grant Celestron a license to utilize Meade's patents. Celestron will
pay to Meade royalties equal to the greater of $100-per-unit or 8% of
Celestron's net revenue from sales of all telescopes that utilize the
"level-North" technology. Celestron in turn grants Meade royalty-free,
non-exclusive licenses for the rights to use the designs and technology
covered by Celestron's patents.

http://home.businesswire.com/portal/... 8&newsLang=en