IRVINE, Calif., March 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- PALM NASDAQ: PALM and Hop-on, Inc. PinkSheets: HPNN announced today Access Systems America, Inc. (ASA, formerly known as PalmSource, Inc.) on March 4, 2008 "Requested to Withdraw Opposition" from the USPTO with prejudice. The Opposition No. 91169665 is a major victory for Hop-on. The confidential settlement agreement, signed on February 26, 2008, ended a three-year litigation in the United States District Court, Central California in regard to the use and registration of the GRAFFITI trademark.
The settlement addresses Hop-on's sole rights to mobile and wireless use of the GRAFFITI name. PalmSource, Inc., a global provider of advanced software technologies to the mobile and beyond-PC markets, brought the action against Hop-on in 2005 citing trademark infringement and sought to prevent Hop-on from using the GRAFFITI name in any mobile phone products or wireless services.
Peter Michaels, President and CEO of Hop-on, Inc. stated, "With the financial settlement of this case, we now have the resources to go after other companies who are infringing our Design and Utility Patents. I am extremely confident that we will be signing multiple license agreements for our technology, and litigating others who do not pay our company for use of our Intellectual Property rights. It is estimated that there are over 50 companies who are infringing our patents. This is a great opportunity for our shareholders to reap the benefits of license agreements and other potential victories in court!"
Michaels further stated, "This kind of law is extremely complicated. We had to settle the US Federal Court lawsuit in California, while simultaneously PalmSource requested to withdraw its opposition at the USPTO in Virginia. We were fighting two distinct battles in two states with different judicial formats with complicated procedures. We were fortunate to have one of the best Patent attorneys, John Welsh, on our side."
For additional information on the case settlement, go to the United States Patent and Trademark Office website at www.uspto.gov.
About Hop-on, Inc.
Hop-on, Inc. OTC: HPNN develops and markets wireless phones and accessories for emerging market and other domestic carriers and is best known for developing the world's first disposable cell phone. Currently, Hop-on, Inc. is expanding into value-added services including mobile gambling and SMS wagering. Hop-on's exclusive software will allow users to stream live interactive feed from legal jurisdictions to play poker, blackjack, roulette and baccarat on personal cell phones.
Certain statements in this news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Rule 175 under the Securities Act of 1933, and are subject to Rule 3B-6 under the Securities Exchange 1934, and are subject to the safe harbor created by those rules. All Statements, other than statements of fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding potential future plans and objectives of the company, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and other results and further events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Future events and actual results could differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by, or underlying the forward-looking statements.
Website: http://www.hop-on.com/