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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 7, 2000
Commission File No. 000-26068
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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ACACIA RESEARCH CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware 95-4405754
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
55 South Lake Avenue
Pasadena, California 91101
(626) 396-8300
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of
registrant's principal executive offices)
VICTORIA WHITE, ESQ.
VP, LEGAL AFFAIRS
55 SOUTH LAKE AVENUE
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA 91101
(626) 396-8300
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area
code, of agent for service)
COPY TO:
JOHN LACO, ESQ.
O'MELVENY & MYERS LLP
400 SOUTH HOPE STREET
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90071
(213) 430-6000
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ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS.
On April 7, 2000, we issued a press release announcing that, on April 5, 2000,
one of our subsidiaries, Soundview Technologies, Inc., filed a lawsuit in the
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia against Sony
Corporation of America, Philips Electronics North America Corporation, the
Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association, and the Consumer Electronics
Association. The lawsuit alleges a violation of federal patent and antitrust
laws and involves Soundview's United States Patent No. 4,554,584.
The lawsuit is at a preliminary stage, and we cannot assure you that the outcome
of this litigation will be favorable to Soundview. For example, Soundview may
not prevail or may not be able to stop the entities named in the lawsuit from
using its patented "V-chip" technology without appropriate remuneration to
Soundview. In addition, these defendants or others could file counterclaims,
separate lawsuits, or other proceedings against Soundview, possibly seeking a
determination that the patent is not infringed, is invalid, or is unenforceable,
or seeking other relief. An unfavorable result could affect the value of
Soundview's patent.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.
Exhibit Description
Number
99.1 Press release announcing a lawsuit filed by Soundview Technologies, Inc.
against Sony Corporation of America, Inc., Philips Electronics North
America Corporation, the Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association
and the Consumer Electronics Association.
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
ACACIA RESEARCH CORPORATION
By: /s/ Paul R. Ryan
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Paul R. Ryan
President and Chief Executive Officer
Date: April 7, 2000
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EXHIBIT 99.1
[LETTERHEAD]
Contact: Rob Stewart
(626) 396-8300
FOR RELEASE
Friday, April 7, 2000
ACACIA RESEARCH AFFILIATE SOUNDVIEW TECHNOLOGIES
FILES LAWSUIT
Pasadena, Calif., Friday, April 7, 2000 -- Acacia Research Corporation
(Nasdaq/NMS: ACRI) announced today that affiliate Soundview Technologies
Incorporated has filed a federal patent and antitrust lawsuit against Sony
Corporation of America, Philips Electronics North America Corporation, the
Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association, and the Consumer Electronics
Association. Soundview filed the lawsuit on April 5, 2000, in the United States
District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. The suit involves
Soundview's United States Patent No. 4,554,584, which relates to television
video and audio blanking technology, commonly known as "V-chip" technology.
Soundview's patent was issued in 1985 and completed a reexamination by the U.S.
Patent and Trademark Office in April 1998.
In its lawsuit, Soundview alleges that Sony and Philips television sets fitted
with "V-chips" infringe Soundview's patent. Additionally, Soundview alleges that
the Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association has induced infringement of
the patent and that the defendants have violated the federal Clayton and Sherman
Antitrust Acts by engaging in collusive attempts to prevent others in the
electronics and television broadcasting industry from entering into license
agreements with Soundview. Soundview is seeking monetary damages, an injunction
preventing unlicensed use of its patented technology, and other remedies. Having
just been filed, the lawsuit is at a preliminary stage, and its ultimate outcome
cannot presently be determined. Soundview's counsel in the lawsuit has been
retained on a contingency fee basis.
Acacia Research owns 66.7% of Soundview.
ABOUT SOUNDVIEW TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED
Soundview has acquired and is developing intellectual property in the
telecommunications field, including audio and video blanking systems, also known
as V-chip technology. Soundview owns the exclusive right and title to U.S.
Patent #4,554,584, which describes a method for implementing the V-chip system
in parallel with the existing closed-captioning circuits already in place in
televisions. The FCC adopted this method as the technical standard for new
televisions sold in the United States that will be required to have V-chip
technology.
ABOUT ACACIA RESEARCH CORPORATION
Acacia Research develops and operates Internet and technology-related businesses
as well as acquires strategic positions in other companies. Acacia Research's
majority-owned subsidiaries include: Acacia Launchpad LLC (Internet incubator),
CombiMatrix Corporation (biochip technology), MerkWerks Corporation (software
development), Soundbreak.com Incorporated (music broadcast and lifestyle
Internet site), and Soundview Technologies, Inc. (V-chip technology).
Significant minority-owned affiliates include: The EC Company (b2b
eTransactions), Greenwich Information Technologies LLC (video-and
audio-on-demand technology), Mediaconnex Communications (b2b e-commerce), and
Signature-mail (personalized e-mail service). Acacia Research's website is
located at http://www.acaciaresearch.com.
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 SOUNDVIEW'S
LITIGATION. SUCH STATEMENTS ARE BASED ON MANAGEMENT'S CURRENT EXPECTATIONS AND
ARE SUBJECT TO A NUMBER OF FACTORS AND UNCERTAINTIES, SUCH AS LEGISLATIVE AND
REGULATORY DEVELOPMENTS, JUDICIAL DECISIONS AND OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES AFFECTING
LITIGATION, WHICH MAY CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY. ACACIA RESEARCH
EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY FUTURE OBLIGATION OR UNDERTAKING TO UPDATE OR REVISE ANY
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT CONTAINED HEREIN.
