SanDisk Files Additional Actions Against STMicroelectronics

--SanDisk(R) Corporation (Nasdaq:SNDK) announced the expansion of its litigation with STMicroelectronics Incorporated and its parent, STMicroelectronics N.V (STM). SanDisk has previously sued STM in the International Trade Commission and in the Northern District of California on STM's NAND memory products. This additional action in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Sherman Division, includes seeking an order for damages and injunctive relief on STM's NOR flash memory products such as those widely found in cell phones.

E. Earle Thompson, SanDisk's Chief Intellectual Property Counsel, said, "We believe that STM has been using SanDisk's patented technology for a number of years in their NOR products, in addition to their NAND products, in an attempt to unfairly capitalize upon the innovations and advancements developed by SanDisk. SanDisk intends to vigorously investigate and prosecute unlicensed companies that improperly use our patented technology."

Additional patents included in the most recent action U.S. Patent No. 5,719,808, entitled "Flash EEPROM System" and U.S. Patent No. 5,583,812, entitled "Flash EEPROM System Cell Array with More than Two Storage States Per Memory Cell."

SanDisk is the original inventor of flash storage cards and is the world's largest supplier of flash data storage card products using its patented, high-density flash memory and controller technology. SanDisk is headquartered in Sunnyvale, CA, and has operations worldwide, with more than half its sales outside the U.S.

The matters discussed in this news release contain forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties as described under the caption, "Factors That May Affect Future Results" in SanDisk's annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. SanDisk assumes no obligation to update the information in this release.

SanDisk's web site/home page address: http://www.sandisk.com.