EXHIBIT 99.1

 

[GRAPHIC]

 

Charles F. Schill

   1330 Connecticut Avenue, NW

202.429.8162

   Washington, DC 20036-1795

cschill@steptoe.com

   Tel 202.429.3000
     Fax 202.429.3902
     steptoe.com

 

July 20, 2004

 

VIA MESSENGER

 

The Honorable Marilyn R. Abbott

Secretary

U. S. International Trade Commission

500 E Street, S.W.

Washington, DC 20436

 

Re: Inv. No. 337-TA-        , In the Matter of Certain Digital Image

Storage and Retrieval Devices — Request to Withdraw Complaint

 

Dear Secretary Abbott:

 

On behalf of Complainant Ampex Corporation (“Ampex”) and pursuant to Commission Rule 210.10(a)(1)(iv) and 210.10(a)(5)(i), we respectfully request withdrawal without prejudice of the complaint filed by Ampex against Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (“Sanyo Electric”) on May 25, 2004, styled In the Matter of Certain Digital Image Storage and Retrieval Devices.” This matter is currently pending institution before the Commission.

 

The aforementioned complaint alleges infringement of the claims of U.S. Patent No. 4,821,121 (“the ‘121 Patent”), a valid and enforceable United States patent owned by Ampex, by the unauthorized manufacture, importation into the United States, sale for importation, and/or sale within the United States after importation of certain digital image storage and retrieval devices by Sanyo Electric.

 

Recently, Ampex and Sanyo Electric have entered into licensing discussions with respect to digital still cameras and camera phones, alleged to infringe the ‘121 Patent, as set forth in the complaint, and have all intentions of resolving their differences in an amicable fashion. Therefore, at this time, Ampex no longer wishes to pursue the patent infringement claims alleged in the aforesaid complaint against Sanyo Electric. Accordingly, Ampex hereby withdraws its May 25, 2004 complaint against Sanyo Electric. Ampex will also soon seek dismissal without prejudice of the parallel district court action, presently pending before the United States District Court for the District of Delaware.

 

WASHINGTON    PHOENIX    LOS ANGELES    LONDON    BRUSSELS

 


[GRAPHIC]

 

The Honorable Marilyn Abbott

July 20, 2004

Page 2

 

Thank you for your kind attention to this matter and for your review, to date, of the complaint. Please do not hesitate to call me with any questions or concerns with respect to this submission.

 

Respectfully submitted,

/s/ Charles F. Schill

Charles F. Schill

Counsel for Ampex Corporation

 


CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

 

The undersigned hereby certifies that copies of the foregoing Request to Withdraw Complaint were filed and served by hand delivery upon the Office of the Secretary of the International Trade Commission on July 20, 2004 as follows:

 

Honorable Marilyn Abbott    (original plus fourteen (14) copies by messenger)
Secretary     
U.S. International Trade Commission     
500 E Street, SW, Room 112     
Washington, DC 20436     

 

/s/ David A. King

David A. King,

Senior Paralegal - Litigation

Steptoe & Johnson, LLP

1330 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20036