Epson Joins RPX Defensive Patent Aggregation Service

TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--RPX Corporation, a defensive patent aggregator, today announced that Epson has joined the RPX Defensive Patent Aggregation service.

“That’s exactly why we created RPX – to help our members lower costs by buying patents and patent rights that would otherwise be threats to their businesses.”

“IT companies like Epson have become very common targets for patent assertion from non-practicing entities and RPX addresses the industry’s need for a strong patent defense offering,” said Eran Zur, RPX president. “We expect that the RPX service will help Epson avoid substantial future litigation and licensing costs.”

RPX acquires patent rights and provides them as a defensive patent aggregation for an annual membership fee to reduce technology companies’ patent risks and costs created by non-practicing entities (NPEs). NPEs acquire patents – as opposed to creating them through research and development – solely for the purpose of offensive licensing against operating companies. And since NPEs do not make or sell products or services, they are not subject to counter-assertions.

“Even with broad patent portfolios, many Japanese companies like Epson are at risk for assertion from NPEs,” said John Amster, RPX co-CEO. “That’s exactly why we created RPX – to help our members lower costs by buying patents and patent rights that would otherwise be threats to their businesses.”

Epson is the sixth member of the RPX Defensive Patent Aggregation service, joining IBM, Cisco and other large and small technology companies. The RPX service was introduced in November 2008.

About RPX Corporation

RPX Corporation is the first defensive patent aggregator. RPX acquires patent rights and provides them as a defensive patent aggregation for an annual membership fee to reduce technology companies’ patent risks and costs created by non-practicing entities (NPEs). The RPX Defensive Patent Aggregation does not require member involvement in acquisitions, and RPX will not enforce the patents it purchases. RPX management has been responsible for more than $2 billion in patent transactions. RPX is financed by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and Charles River Ventures.