IRVINE, Calif., Oct. 6, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Microsemi Corporation (Nasdaq:MSCC) announced today that it is filing a patent infringement lawsuit against Monolithic Power Systems, Inc. (MPS) in the United States District Court for the Central District of California. Microsemi brings this suit to allege that MPS should stop illegally using Microsemi's patented technology and should provide monetary relief for unauthorized use of Microsemi's intellectual property.
The suit centers around what Microsemi believes has been MPS's willful infringement of four Microsemi patents, U.S. Patent Nos. 5,615,093; 5,923,129; 5,930,121; and 6,198,234, which relate to the company's display lamp driver technologies used to illuminate electronic displays found in laptop and personal computers, personal digital assistants, and LCD TVs, as well as other liquid crystal display ("LCD") screens. As the rightful owner and assignee of these patents, Microsemi has the right to enforce and protect its patents under the U.S. patent laws from acts of infringement.
About Microsemi
Microsemi is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of high performance analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits and high reliability discrete semiconductors. The company's semiconductors manage and control or regulate power, protect against transient voltage spikes and transmit, receive and amplify signals.
Microsemi's products include individual components as well as integrated circuit solutions that enhance customer designs by improving performance and reliability, battery optimization, reducing size or protecting circuits. The principal markets the company serves include implanted medical, military/aerospace and satellite, notebook computers and monitors, automotive and mobile connectivity applications.
More information may be obtained by contacting the company directly or by visiting its web site at http://www.microsemi.com.
Please read the following factors that can materially affect Microsemi's future results.
The litigation we have filed should determine the scope and validity of certain of our proprietary rights. Patents held by us may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented. Patents often provide only narrow protection. Also patents expire and are not renewable. Protecting our proprietary rights may require us to defend claims brought by the defendant. Patent lawsuits sometimes are costly, complex proceedings. The litigation in which we have engaged as plaintiff would likely result in an increase in our legal costs. While we are not a defendant in this litigation, we believe that this litigation could consume valuable time and resources of our management and could result in other direct and indirect costs and expenses. Although we expect to prevail, a loss in this litigation could have material adverse consequences.
"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Any statements set forth in the news release that are not entirely historical and factual in nature are forward-looking statements. For instance, all statements of belief and expectations are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, such factors as the difficulties regarding the making of estimates and projections, the hiring and retention of qualified personnel in a competitive labor market, acquiring and integrating new operations or assets, closing or disposing of operations or assets, rapidly changing technology and product obsolescence, the potential inability to realize cost savings or productivity gains and to improve capacity utilization, potential cost increases, weakness or competitive pricing environment of the marketplace, uncertain demand for and acceptance of the company's products, results of in-process or planned development or marketing and promotional campaigns, changes in demand for products, difficulties foreseeing future demand, effects of limited visibility of future sales, potential non-realization of expected orders or non-realization of backlog, product returns, product liability, and other potential unexpected business and economic conditions or adverse changes in current or expected industry conditions, business disruptions, epidemics, disasters, wars or potential future effects of the tragic events of September 11, variations in customer order preferences, fluctuations in market prices of the company's common stock and potential unavailability of additional capital on favorable terms, difficulties in implementing company strategies, dealing with environmental matters or litigation, difficulties in determining and maintaining adequate insurance coverage, difficulties protecting patents and other proprietary rights, inventory obsolescence and customer qualification of products, manufacturing facilities and processes. In addition to these factors and any other factors mentioned elsewhere in this news release, the reader should refer as well to the factors, uncertainties or risks identified in the company's most recent Form 10-K or subsequent Forms 10-Q and 8-K filed by Microsemi with the SEC. Additional risk factors shall be identified from time to time in Microsemi's future filings. Microsemi does not undertake to supplement or correct any information in this release that is or becomes incorrect.
Investor Inquiries: David R. Sonksen, Microsemi Corporation, Irvine, CA (949) 221-7101.
The Microsemi Corporation logo can be found at: http://www.primezone.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=1233