Press Release
NETWORK-1 Announces special licensing program for early adopters
of Essential IEEE 802.3af Power over Ethernet (PoE) Technology
Microsemi Agrees to Become First Licensee under the New
Program
New York, NY – June 30, 2008 --
(Network-1 Security Solutions, Inc. (OTC BB: NSSI)
today announced the introduction of a new Special Licensing
Program for its Remote Power Patent (US Patent No. 6,218,930)
entitled, "Apparatus and Method for Remotely Powering Access
Equipment Over a 10/100 Switched Ethernet Network". The
Remote Power Patent relates to, among other things, several key
technologies underlying the IEEE 802.3af Power over Ethernet (PoE)
standard (the "PoE Standard") that was approved in June 2003 by
the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (the
"IEEE"). The Special Licensing
Program is of limited duration (through December 31, 2008) and
is being implemented on an industry-wide basis to offer
discounted running royalty rates and exceptions to Network-1's
standard licensing terms and conditions for the '930 Patent to
vendors of finished products that comply with the PoE Standard,
including equipment defined in the PoE Standard as Power
Sourcing Equipment (PSE) and Powered Devices (PD).
The Special Licensing Program will be available to all vendors
of PoE equipment including those companies that are defendants
in the recent patent litigation filed by Network-1 against
several major data networking equipment manufacturers in the
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas and who
enter into a license agreement with Network-1 within 120 days of
a scheduling order being entered in the case. Detailed
royalty information is now available for review by qualified
vendors of Power over Ethernet equipment. Interested parties
should contact Network-1 for such information.
As previously announced, Network-1 recently entered into an
agreement (the "Agreement") with Microsemi Corp-Analog Mixed
Signal Group Ltd ("Microsemi") (previously PowerDsine Ltd), a
subsidiary of Microsemi Corporation (Nasdaq: MSCC) which, among
other things, enables Microsemi to assist in its customers
evaluation of the Remote Power Patent and the terms being made
available to vendors of PoE equipment pursuant to the Special
Licensing Program. The Agreement
also provides that Microsemi will, by August 15, 2008, enter
into a license agreement under the Special Licensing Program for
certain Midspan PoE products. Microsemi designs, develops and
supplies PoE Midspans, systems, integrated circuits and modules
that enable the implementation of power over Ethernet in local
area networks and provide the capability to deliver and manage
electrical power over existing data network cables.
The Special Licensing Program offers licenses at substantial
discounts to Network-1's standard terms. However, at the
expiration of the Special Licensing Program, Network-1 will no
longer being offering "early adopter" discounted licenses to the
Remote Power Patent and will only offer licenses at its standard
royalty rates, which are substantially higher than its Special
Licensing Program rates. "It's been
our intention to work with the industry to simplify licensing of
this critical technology without the cost and distraction of
unnecessary litigation", said Corey Horowitz, Network-1 Chairman
and CEO. "We have always been committed to an industry wide
licensing program that promotes, rather than inhibits, the
growth of PoE", continued Mr. Horowitz. "To accommodate
the industry, we will continue to offer discounted licenses
through December 31. After that, we will only offer
licenses on our standard terms and conditions which will be
substantially higher as a result of having to aggressively
enforce our IP rights for the benefit of our shareholders".
Analysts forecast explosive growth for the PoE market since it
is an enabler of reliable, cost effective deployment of next
generation IT solutions, including Voice over IP and Wireless
LANS. By taking advantage of PoE technology, companies can
deploy next generation solutions such as Voice over IP and
Wireless LAN's without having to run separate power cables.
PoE technology provides numerous benefits including significant
deployment savings and increased service reliability through
centralized backup power. These benefits have caused industry
analysts to identify PoE as a "must have" technology and vendors
have responded with a wealth of new products offerings.
Indeed, industry analysts expect PoE to become a defacto
technology embedded in LAN Ethernet switches that power devices
such as wireless access points, VOIP telephones, and network
cameras, among others. Industry analysts estimate that in 2007
fully 20% of all Ethernet switch ports were PoE enabled and
between 90% and 95% of IP Phones and Wireless Access Points were
also so enabled.
ABOUT NETWORK-1 SECURITY
SOLUTIONS, INC.
Network-1 Security Solutions, Inc.
is engaged in the acquisition, development, licensing and
protection of its intellectual property and proprietary
technologies. The Company owns six patents covering various
telecommunications and data networking technologies. As part of
its business strategy it is offering licenses to third parties
who Network-1 believes could benefit from the technologies
covered by its patents.
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements address future events and conditions concerning the Company's business plans. Such statements are subject to a number of risk factors and uncertainties as disclosed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 2007 including, among others, the ability of Network-1 to obtain license agreements from third parties for its patent portfolio, uncertainty of patent litigation, the Company's ability to achieve revenues and profits from its patent portfolio, the Company's ability to raise capital when needed, future economic conditions and technology changes and legislative, regulatory and competitive developments. Except as otherwise required to be disclosed in periodic reports, the Company expressly disclaims any future obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statement contained herein.
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