Optima to Move for a Federal Injunction to Shut Sonic Solutions Down

Optima Technology, an Irvine, California-based software company will name another defendant, Sonic Solutions (NasdaqNM: SNIC), in its Federal patent case against Roxio - NAPSTER INC (NasdaqNM: ROXI).

Irvine, CA (PRWEB) January 3, 2005 -- Optima Technology, an Irvine, California-based software company will name another defendant, Sonic Solutions (NasdaqNM: SNIC), in its Federal patent case against Roxio - NAPSTER INC (NasdaqNM: ROXI). Roxio recently sold its entire software product division, including the software line in question, to Sonic Solutions. As of December 20, Sonic assumed all liabilities according to press releases by both companies. Reviewing the filed SEC documents concerning the Roxio deal, it seems that Roxio may have withheld the seriousness of their patent infringement and that Sonic was unaware of what they were entering into upon the purchase of the software group.

The Complaint (Federal Case No. SACV03-1776 JVS ANx), filed December 2003 by Optimas attorneys, asserts that Roxio, and now Sonic, are infringing on its patent for a "Recordable CDROM Accessing System" - software that enables users to burn photographs, music, video and data onto recordable CDs. Optima is owed millions in damages, royalties and attorneys fees from Roxio and Sonic.

The CEO and owner of Optima, Robert Adams said that We are a very small company who would prefer to settle so that we could go after the others who use OSTA UDF 1.5 and thus infringe on our patent, yet it seems that because Roxio and Sonic are large, publicly traded companies, they are of the opinion they can 'thumb their nose at the Federal Courts and walk all over the intellectual property of a small business. Based on Roxios and Sonic's disregard for the recent Federal ruling against them in the Markman hearing and the soundness of our case, we will go forward and file a motion for a Summary Judgment and seek a cease-and-desist order to shut down Sonic in order to make our point that we mean business."

If I were a stock holder of Roxio or Sonic, I would be asking questions as to the ethics of how a public company can steal anothers intellectual property with disregard to the consequences. Theft is theft and if the SEC does not act, then we will take the matter to trial in the Federal courts" said Adams.

Since offering the limited amnesty for those companies who incorporate the OSTA UDF 1.5 standard, our attorneys have been approached by several major Japanese companies seeking a license of patent #5,566,531. This, of course, will only apply to that portion of the standard that infringes Patent 5,666, 531.

Founded in Irvine, California in 1990, Optima is a worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software or hardware -- any time, any place and/or on any device. www.optimatech.com

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