Canon set to buy out Toshiba's display stake, SED production in sight?
By Darren Murph 
posted Jan 12th 2007 2:45PM
posted Jan 12th 2007 2:45PM
There's not too many technologies that eventually surfaced after hitting as many snags as these long-awaited SED TVs, but it looks like the final hurdle may finally be overcome. Canon has just announced that it will buy out Toshiba's stake in the pair's joint venture in order to get that pesky Nano-Proprietary patent lawsuit off their collective backs. The lawsuit claimed that its original agreement to license technology to Canon did not extend to Toshiba, thus presenting quite the quandary when Toshiba kept trying to get its SED displays out to showroom floors. SED TV production, however, is still up in the air, as Canon said that prior plans to erect a $1.49 billion manufacturing facility in Japan is now "under review," and an analyst even mentioned that the company might end up "reconsidering growth drivers to replace SED." Nevertheless, Canon is still clinging to the idea of popping out SEDs for now, although it was mentioned that it would be "on a smaller scale," which isn't apt to give these elusive sets any kind of price advantage whenever it lands. Interestingly, Toshiba still stated that if things went smoothly, it would buy some of the manufactured SED displays directly from Canon and throw its own logo on it, theoretically bypassing the lawsuit and simultaneously snubbing Nano-Proprietary. But hey, we've got no qualms with a little joint venture competition, and considering how every other HDTV price is falling through the floor, we'll bet they need it.[Thanks, Greg]
Damn you lawsuits!
Well, you don't have to make large TVs, Canon, just give me a 25-inch 1920x1440 (yes, non-widescreen) SED computer monitor. I'll be happy with that.
Thank you.
This is all sooooooo frustrating. Sheesh, the biggest recent innovation in CRT technology was the ability to use flat instead of convex glass (aside from aspect ratio and tuner changes). I so wish that the LCD/Plasma stuff would just hurry up and stabilize so I don't have to drop a knot on a new Boob Tube that will be obsolete within 18 months. Quad HD on the way?!? Do you think I really need to see the nose hair and enlarged pores on everyone on TV? I thought that was the point of TV, it offered the illusion that the folks on the other side of the glass were "perfect" and "beautiful." I'm not ready for the cold, harsh reality that everyone's got some ugly...there's nothing to aspire to or envy. I might as well go to the park and watch my neighbors.
Damn! I was so looking forward to this TV. I have a feeling OLED technology (as Sony demo'ed in CES) is going to supplant the SED one in due time. Damn lawsuit-happy country!
It's getting to the point in the US that nothing new is going to every be produced. Your patent laws are broken and it's hurting competitiveness all around the world. It's time for a higher standard to get anything patented or else nothing will ever get made.
Try to understand the issues at hand before commenting, the lawsuit is NOT a patent dispute, it is a contract dispute. Canon licensed NNPP's patents in the first place, without NNPP's R&D there would not be SED at all.
NANO-PROPRIETARY, INC. COMMENTS ON CANON’S PRESS RELEASE REGARDING SED, INC. OWNERSHIP
Austin, Texas, January 12, 2007 – Nano-Proprietary, Inc. (OTC BB: NNPP), today announced that it is pleased Canon, Inc. and Toshiba Corporation have decided to continue to move forward with their SED TV.
“Restructuring of Canon’s ownership position does not resolve the pending litigation which goes to trial in a few weeks,” said Tom Bijou, Chief Executive Officer of Nano-Proprietary, Inc. “We have terminated Canon’s license as a result of breach of contract. Moreover, our complaint against Canon includes other counts, including fraud unrelated to the ownership of SED. We are, however, willing to enter into a new license agreement with Canon on reasonable terms.”
actually, our copyright laws are the bigger problem. Patent suits rarely keep things from going forward; especially since research exemptions exist.
DRM is a function of the length of our copyrights. I mean really; someone invents the light bulb and they get 20yrs of exclusivity. Someone screws around on a guitar and gets over 100 years of exclucivity.........
Something's amiss there.
SED is an interim tech. and this industry is a fast paced 1. if they don't bring this out soon it'll be obsolete b4 they do. just as many technologies that waited too long for release have, and all they're R&D $$ into SED will go down the toilet.
This whole story is amazing. From good to bad then
good again then worse in only two weeks. Will this thing ever get off the ground?
http://www.sed-tv-reviews.com
"SED is an interim tech"
Care to explain how? It offers all of the benefits of CRT only in a flat panel form factor. That makes it the best hdtv (or ANY display) solutin anyone has come with yet. I have not heard of one solution that woul dmake SED 'obsolete.'
I here some people mention OLED, but that has its own problems and there is nothing to report that would make anyone beleive it would best SED. It might one day equal SED, but its going to take time.
Anyway - they need to get off their asses; I have been yearning for SED for years and still have not heard of anything that could best it, other then perhaps a traditional CRT (if that) and I want a flat panel.
Oh well, last year a bought a really high end SOny LCD HDTV - so perhaps by the time this tech comes out and is within my affordability range, I will be in the market for a new tv.
the only way oled could beat sed crt (if they ever get the bloody thing off the ground that is) is if oled engineers invent a screen technology that makes their screens totally and certifiably dead-pixel proof. "For those who dont know" Dead pixels is what hinders a major portion of the lcd market, the other turn off, is response latency. Elegant Glass screen covers for high end 'class 1' lcd's would also be a fine idea to keep friendly fingers off.