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S2 Licensing formally launches DVB-S2 patent licensing campaign

26 August 2008

A press release issued yesterday by S2 Licensing announces the availability of licenses covering technology patents essential to the implementation of DVB-S2 held by DirecTV and RAI. The European Space Agency also holds essential patents which will shortly be added to the portfolio. The full text of the press release is as follows:

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--S2 Licensing announced today the launch of a licensing campaign under the combined patent rights in DVB S2 standardized technology held by DTVG Licensing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of The DIRECTV Group, Inc. and the owner by assignment of DIRECTV's essential DVB-S2 patents, and RAI. ESA is in the late stages of agreeing to the initiative and is expected to contribute its DVB-S2 patent rights to those of DIRECTV and RAI, at no additional cost to licensees, later in 2008.

DVB-S2 (Digital Video Broadcasting - Satellite, 2nd Generation) is the second generation DVB system for broadband satellite communications, covering digital TV and HDTV broadcasting, interactive services, and professional links by satellite. DVB-S2 enables delivery of a significantly higher data rate (e.g. 30%) in a given transponder bandwidth than the previous DVB-S standard.

For the convenience of adopters, the license under the combined portfolios (currently representing over twenty patent families) is now available to all parties practicing or planning to practice the DVB-S2 standard, and provides favorable terms to speed adoption of the DVB-S2 standard. For consumer applications, such as satellite television set-top box receivers, a license under the combined portfolios is available for a one-time royalty of US$0.50 for each encoder or decoder present in a product for quantities exceeding 500,000 over the term of the license, and US$1.00 per encoder or decoder in lower quantities. Terms for other applications, such as digital satellite news gathering, data trunking, and up-link station modulation, are offered at reasonable and non-discriminatory terms, available upon
request.

Attractive financial incentives are available for parties who enter into the license agreement prior to December 31, 2008. Parties interested in more information or in securing a license are invited to contact John T. Whelan, Esq., CLP (jwhelan@s2licensing.com), or visit our website at www.s2licensing.com. Appointments with interested parties are also being scheduled in association with IBC2008 (Amsterdam, 12-15 September 2008). Please contact us to schedule a meeting.

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