Press Release: Lexar and Sony Expand Licensing Relationship


Sept. 30, 2005--Lexar Media, Inc. (Nasdaq:LEXR), a leading manufacturer and marketer of high-performance digital media and accessories, today announced that it has expanded its licensing relationship with Sony. Under the new agreement, Lexar has granted to Sony a license to Lexar's patents for Sony products not covered by the companies' existing cross-license agreement. This agreement builds on the relationship that began in early 2000, when Lexar and Sony signed a fundamental patent cross-license agreement under which Lexar gained the right to manufacture and sell the Memory Stick line of products.

"As one of the first companies ever to work with NAND flash memory -- with a heritage dating back to 1994 -- Lexar has some of the earliest patents on flash system design and performance," said Eric Whitaker, executive vice president and general counsel, Lexar. "Our cross license with Sony has been very successful for both companies, giving each design freedom and allowing Lexar to participate in the enormous growth of the key Memory Stick format. The expansion of our licensing agreement with Sony further demonstrates the mutual respect and cooperation between the companies. We are confident that broadening our strategic partnership will benefit both Lexar and Sony and allow us to better meet the needs of customers."
About Lexar Media, Inc.
Lexar is a leading marketer and manufacturer of flash memory cards, USB flash drives, card readers and ATA controller technology for the digital photography, consumer electronics, industrial and communications markets. The company holds over 87 issued or allowed controller and system patents, and licenses its technology to companies including Olympus, Samsung Electronics, SanDisk and Sony. For more information, please call 1-800-789-9418 or visit www.lexar.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is subject to the safe harbor created by those sections. These forward-looking statements include assertions regarding our intellectual property licensing arrangements. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by these forward-looking statements. These risks include, among others, that the success of our business depends, in part, on our efforts to protect our intellectual property rights and our ability to build and maintain strategic relationships necessary to develop, sell and market products. Readers should also refer to the risk factors described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2005, and our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 9, 2005. We assume no obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this news release.
Lexar and the Lexar logo are trademarks of Lexar Media, Inc. All other brand or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Posted: Fri - September 30, 2005 at 09:02 AM          

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