Wi-LAN Acquires Key Communications Patent

OTTAWA, Canada – May 17, 2007 - Wi-LAN Inc. (or "Wi-LAN") a leading technology licensing company, today announced it has acquired an important and essential communications patent, U.S. 5,761,602, (the 602 Patent), for total consideration of approximately US$1.1 million. The 602 Patent has several claims which Wi-LAN believes would be infringed by any cable modem or cable set-top box used, sold or manufactured in the United States.

The 602 Patent, which expires in September, 2015, is not licensed to any party at this time.  Its inventors have signed consulting agreements with Wi-LAN in order to assist with litigation and licensing activities concerning the Patent.

Among other things, the 602 Patent is believed to read on products compliant with the DOCSIS (Data over Cable Service Interface Specification) standards. DOCSIS is an international standard developed by CableLabs, a non-profit research and development consortium. Equipment compliant with the standard is employed by cable television operators to provide broadband Internet access and interactive services, such as Video on Demand, over cable infrastructure.

"This patent is a great find for us,” said Jim Skippen, President and CEO. “We believe it is clearly infringed by virtually all cable set-top boxes and cable modems sold or manufactured in the U.S today. With 2006 U.S. sales of cable set-top boxes alone estimated at over $2.5 Billion, this represents a significant market opportunity for us. As well, many potential licensees of our existing portfolio and the Tri-Vision patents, are also active in the cable modem and digital cable set-top box markets.”

“During the past eleven months, since we changed our business focus, we have significantly strengthened Wi-LAN.  We have added strong management and cash, enabling us to make patent acquisitions or handle multiple litigations. Our already powerful arsenal of patents is getting even stronger as we continue to add more potent patent ammunition. A number of negotiations are currently underway with potential licensees which we believe could be completed before the expiry of our Early License Program on July 31, 2007.  As our Early License Program winds down, we intend to consider becoming more aggressive with uncooperative infringers.”

About Wi-LAN Inc.

Wi-LAN, which was founded in 1992, licenses intellectual property that drives a full range of products providing access in wireless and wireline telecommunications markets. Some of the fundamental technologies covered by Wi-LAN’s patents include: CDMA, Wi-Fi, WiMAX, DOCSIS and DSL. Wi-LAN has already licensed its intellectual property to a number of major companies, including Cisco, Fujitsu and Nokia.