Trident Microsystems Licenses to MSTAR Semiconductors Certain MEMC Patents

SUNNYVALE, Calif. and HSINCHU, Taiwan , Jan. 6, 2011 -- Trident Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq: TRID), a leading provider of set-top box and TV semiconductor solutions, and MStar Semiconductors, Inc. today announced that they have entered into a patent license agreement relating to a part of Trident's motion estimation and motion compensation (MEMC) patent portfolio.  The licensed MEMC patents are directed to the display of high definition and 3D images for high-quality televisions and other video enabled LCD display devices and are a de facto standard approach for enhancing picture quality. The terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

MStar Semiconductor is a leading SOC chip supplier for consumer devices, with leading positions in solutions for portable and mobile consumer devices.

This patent license agreement follows an August 31, 2010 announcement that Trident was making a limited number of patent licenses available to TV OEMs and consumer electronics semiconductor providers for use in their consumer video devices under a portion of the Trident MEMC patent portfolio originally developed by Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.

Trident, a technology leader in the TV and set-top box markets, controls a broad patent portfolio that includes patents directed to MEMC, demodulators, audio, video, television interfaces, 3D, conditional access and general semiconductor circuit technology.  

Trident has not disclosed the financial details of its licensing program.  For additional information or to request a license, interested companies can contact Trident at: IP_Legal@tridentmicro.com.

About MStar Semiconductor, Inc.

MStar Semiconductor, Inc. is a leading IC design company, and is dedicated to providing system-on-chip integrated circuit technologies. By combining semiconductor design expertise and system knowhow, MStar delivers a broad line of products: video display, multimedia, wireless communication ICs, and general-purpose mixed-mode ICs. For more information please visit www.mstarsemi.com.tw.  

About Trident Microsystems, Inc.

Trident Microsystems, Inc., with headquarters in Sunnyvale, California, is a leading force in the digital home entertainment market, delivering an extensive range of platform solutions that enhance the consumer experience in the Connected Home.  As one of the top-three semiconductor providers to both the TV and set-top box markets, Trident's solutions can be found in the products of leading OEMs and channel partners worldwide.  The company's extensive IP portfolio of more than 2,000 patents has been driving key innovations in image quality, 3D TV, low power consumption, and 45nm designs. For further information about Trident and its products, please consult the Company's web site: www.tridentmicro.com.