As anticipated, Geoworks Corp. has released the revised terms of its licensing program concerning its Flexible User Interface patent, which it says is used by anyone building or deploying Wireless Application Protocol products or services.
The company first extended the date by which licensing agreements must be complete to Sept. 1, from July 1. Those contacting Geoworks by July 31 will have until the September deadline to take advantage of the initial fee structure-$20,000 a year for companies making more than $1 million in yearly revenues.
After Sept. 1, firms must pay a licensing fee of $100,000 for a three-year period, which will be retroactive for any past infringement of the patent.
However, Phone.com Inc. does not believe Geoworks has a valid patent. and has filed a lawsuit to block the licensing program.
Bob Boggard, public-relations director at Geoworks, said the change in licensing structure was made partly to motivate companies to complete licensing now, rather than delay.
He said the company has received many requests for information on the program, and more than 75,000 people have downloaded the white paper explaining the process from the company Web site. Because of the many requests for information and the many questions that have followed, Geoworks decided to extend the deadline to Sept. 1, “but we don’t foresee any extensions after this,” he added.
In time, the $100,000 fee for three years will apply to all. The initial licensing structure of $20,000 a year is only good for the first year, Boggard said.
Those completing deals before Sept. 1 will never have to pay retroactively, while those who wait until after the deadline will.
Although Geoworks has only named one company, Toshiba, as a licensee, Boggard said several others have licensed, but he cannot disclose their names. He added that the licensing program has progressed at about the expected pace, but downplayed its overall significance to Geoworks.
“Realistically, this is a small portion of our business,” Boggard said. Most of its activities revolve around its mobile ASP business. But one can expect to see further licensing in the future. Geoworks is in the process of acquiring AirBoss, which holds several patents as well that Geoworks plans to enforce.
Going further, Boggard dismissed the lawsuits between it and Phone.com as being indicative of any weakness in the WAP industry.
