- Netac Technology
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Netac Technology 
Type Private Industry Consumer electronics Headquarters Shenzhen, Guangdong province, People's Republic of China Key people Guoshun Frank Deng, co-founder Products USB flash drives, MP3 players, HDD drives/enclosures, microcontroller units Website netac.com Netac Technology Co Ltd (SZSE: 300042) is a Shenzen consumer electronics company that claims to have invented the USB flash drive.[1] It is a Chinese OEM[2]/ODM.[3]
In 2006 it became the first Chinese company to initiate an overseas intellectual property infringement lawsuit when it sued PNY Technologies in the US.[4]
Contents
History
Founded on the 29th of April, 1999[5] by Guoshun Frank Deng and Cheng Xiaohua,[5] the two worked for a year developing their first product, an eight megabyte flash memory drive that Deng christened the U disk.[5]
Flash drive
On July 24, 2002 Netac was granted its first patent, for an electronic flash memory external storage method and device.[6] At least 14 companies have since requested invalidation of this patent, as "[the patented device] has been anticipated by the combination of two references, i.e. USB System Architecture and the Handbook of Flash Memory Technology published in 1997 and such combination is obvious to those skilled in the art."[7]
September 2002 saw Netac launching its first products.[5]
Although the company claims to have invented the first USB flash drive in 1999[1] and submitted a Chinese patent application for the device the same year, the patent was granted[6] and the product launched only in 2002.[5] IBM had released an eight megabyte USB flash drive in late 2000[8] which preceded Netac's offering to market by more than a year and a half.
Recent events
Netac was recently listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.
Products
Netac mainly manufactures USB flash drives, but external hard disk drives, MP3 Players, digital photo frames, microcontroller units, and SD cards are also among its product line.
Patents
Netac is unique among Chinese OEMs in that it holds a number of patents.[9] By 2009, Netac had filed for over 300 patents in the USA, South Korea, Singapore, and the Peoples' Republic of China.[1] Over 200 of those patent applications had been filed by 2005.[9]
Patents held by Netac include:
- Chinese Patent No. ZL99117225.6 for an electronic flash memory external storage method and device.[6]
- US Patent No. 6,829,672, for an electronic flash memory external storage method and device.[10]
- Chinese Patent No. ZL02114797.3 for a USB Wireless Modem[11]
- South Korean Patent No. 583626, for a multifunction semiconductor storage device and method for booting-up computer host[12]
- Singaporean Patent No. SG119038, for an automatically executing method using semiconductor storage devices[13]
Lawsuits
Intellectual-property infringement is widespread in China,[9] and Netac has taken companies both in and outside of this nation to court in order to protect the monopoly its patents grant.[5]
Companies it has sued include US-based PNY Technologies,[14] Beijing's Lenovo[15] and Huaqi Information Digital Technology Co Ltd,[5] Shenzen's Fuguanghui and Xingzhidao,[16] Japan-based Sony,[17] and Taiwan's Acer and Tai Guen Enterprise Co.[17]
Its 2006 suit against PNY Technologies was the first time a Chinese company filed patent charges overseas.[4]
Shenzhen Coocaa Network Technology Co Ltd
A joint venture with Skyworth, Shenzhen Coocaa Network Technology Co Ltd provides free high-definition movie and video download services.[18] Netac has developed USB flash drives that, in conjunction with USB port equipped Skyworth televisions, allow video to be played from the drive.
Production bases
Netac has a factory in Nanshan Lishan Industrial Park, Shenzhen.[19]
External links
References
- ^ a b c Netac Company Introduction Netac Official Site
- ^ OEM Netac Official Site
- ^ ODM Netac Official Site
- ^ a b Netac reaches settlement in US patent case China Daily/Xinhua 2008-03-27
- ^ a b c d e f g G. Frank Deng: An IPR warrior leading a new industry Netac Official Site
- ^ a b c Netac Timeline Netac Official Website
- ^ [1] - Xiaoguang YANG, Zhongzi Law Office
- ^ Lenovo 8MB USB Memory Key - Overview Lenovo Official Site
- ^ a b c Thinking for Themselves The Economist, Survey: Patents and Technology, Oct 20th 2005
- ^ Netac Authorized with Core Patent of USB Flash Drive in U.S. Netac Official Website
- ^ Netac Authorized with Digital Mate & USB Wireless Modem Patents Netac Official Website
- ^ Netac Authorized Core Invention Patent of USB Flash Drive in South Korea Natec Official Site
- ^ Netac Gained Successfully Invention Patent of USB Flash Drive in Singapore Natec Official Website
- ^ China Goes A-Courtin' money.cnn.com, March 7, 2006: 12:17 PM EST
- ^ Netac And Huaqi Settle Suit JLM Pacific Epoch
- ^ Flash memory disk market under fire Xinhua - English 2006-10-17 13:31
- ^ a b Gathering Storm Netac Official Website
- ^ Skyworth and Netac set up Coocaa Network Technology Co., Ltd. jointly Skyworth Mobile Official Site
- ^ Factory Netac Official Site
Categories:- Companies listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange
- Electronics companies of the People's Republic of China
- Companies established in 1999
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