Prices of Apex players to go up?
#1
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Prices of Apex players to go up?
I just saw this release which sounds like it could lead to an increase in some of the Cheaper China made players like Apex, Mintek etc.
TOKYO (Nikkei)--Sony Corp. (SNE or 6758), along with Pioneer Corp. (PIO or
6773) and Phillips Electronics, has signed DVD player patent licensing
agreements with a parent company of Chinese manufacturer Apex Digital Inc.,
company sources said Thursday, The Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported in its Friday
morning edition.
The Japanese firms have claimed that Apex's DVD players infringe on their
patents and demanded the company sign licensing agreements. With Apex's
refusal, Sony independently sued Apex in the U.S., demanding suspension of
imports and sales.
Apex, whose parent is United Delta Inc., based in the state of California,
imports and sells low-priced Chinese-made DVD players in the U.S.
Under the contract, Apex will pay either 3.5% of the wholesale price or $5.00
- whichever is higher - to all three firms for each DVD player sold to
retailers, in addition to compensation for products already sold.
In another conflict with Chinese manufacturers over DVD player patents, six
companies, including Hitachi Ltd. (HIT or 6501), Toshiba Corp. (J.TOS or 6502)
and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. (MC or 6752), are expected to sign
licensing agreements with about 100 Chinese firms.
The China Audio Industry Association, which handles patent fees, looks set to
sign the agreements on behalf of the manufacturers soon, after the Japanese
firms asked for unpaid fees to be stumped up.
TOKYO (Nikkei)--Sony Corp. (SNE or 6758), along with Pioneer Corp. (PIO or
6773) and Phillips Electronics, has signed DVD player patent licensing
agreements with a parent company of Chinese manufacturer Apex Digital Inc.,
company sources said Thursday, The Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported in its Friday
morning edition.
The Japanese firms have claimed that Apex's DVD players infringe on their
patents and demanded the company sign licensing agreements. With Apex's
refusal, Sony independently sued Apex in the U.S., demanding suspension of
imports and sales.
Apex, whose parent is United Delta Inc., based in the state of California,
imports and sells low-priced Chinese-made DVD players in the U.S.
Under the contract, Apex will pay either 3.5% of the wholesale price or $5.00
- whichever is higher - to all three firms for each DVD player sold to
retailers, in addition to compensation for products already sold.
In another conflict with Chinese manufacturers over DVD player patents, six
companies, including Hitachi Ltd. (HIT or 6501), Toshiba Corp. (J.TOS or 6502)
and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. (MC or 6752), are expected to sign
licensing agreements with about 100 Chinese firms.
The China Audio Industry Association, which handles patent fees, looks set to
sign the agreements on behalf of the manufacturers soon, after the Japanese
firms asked for unpaid fees to be stumped up.
#3
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So if I read that right, they are going to have to pay $15 ($5 each to three companies) for EVERY player sold from then on, PLUS a settlement for past sales? That sounds awfully steep. $15 a player when your main player sales are on average less than $100 (most significantly less!). Ouch!
#4
DVD Talk Legend
The Apex player may be the biggest reason for Pan and Scan getting some much support lately. All the idiots at work that complain about widescreen are new to DVD and they all bought cheap Apex players for Christmas.
Curse you Apex.
Curse you Apex.
#7
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I bought an Apex 500W and man I'm not lying when I say it's a piece of JUNK!! Now I have to go out and spend even more cash to get a decent player. Thank goodness for two little words ; PRICE CLUB!
Robb
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I couldn't agree with you more, Captain Harlock.
DVDANGLE.com reports: More Woes for Apex: As if this burgeoning hardware manufacturer didn't have enough concerns with their high defective-unit rate, they are now being sued by Sony for, and I quote, "infringements of DVD player patents." It seems Apex isn't paying the licensing fees for certain DVD technologies owned and patented by Sony, Philips, and Pioneer. According to documents filed for this lawsuit, these licensing fees are "3.5% of the wholesale price or a minimum of $5 per player." It'll be interesting to see how this situation turns out.
DVDANGLE.com reports: More Woes for Apex: As if this burgeoning hardware manufacturer didn't have enough concerns with their high defective-unit rate, they are now being sued by Sony for, and I quote, "infringements of DVD player patents." It seems Apex isn't paying the licensing fees for certain DVD technologies owned and patented by Sony, Philips, and Pioneer. According to documents filed for this lawsuit, these licensing fees are "3.5% of the wholesale price or a minimum of $5 per player." It'll be interesting to see how this situation turns out.
#9
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Originally posted by Abob Teff
So if I read that right, they are going to have to pay $15 ($5 each to three companies) for EVERY player sold from then on, PLUS a settlement for past sales? That sounds awfully steep. $15 a player when your main player sales are on average less than $100 (most significantly less!). Ouch!
So if I read that right, they are going to have to pay $15 ($5 each to three companies) for EVERY player sold from then on, PLUS a settlement for past sales? That sounds awfully steep. $15 a player when your main player sales are on average less than $100 (most significantly less!). Ouch!
#10
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my problem with apex?
1. i bought a Apex for $89 -
2. the price dropped to $79 the next week! (they did give me a $10 credit when i came back w/ receipt)
3. @ CC they now have one for $54.99!
DAMMIT!!!! I could have got a DVD player for $24 less
I purchased a 3-year warranty on the APEX, only a really DUMB person would buy one expecting outstanding quaility or reliaibity. I bought it cause it was cheap - and served the purpose of watching my DVD's.
it took 20 years for vcr's to get sub $100, by mid-summer DVD players will be sub $50!
1. i bought a Apex for $89 -
2. the price dropped to $79 the next week! (they did give me a $10 credit when i came back w/ receipt)
3. @ CC they now have one for $54.99!
DAMMIT!!!! I could have got a DVD player for $24 less
I purchased a 3-year warranty on the APEX, only a really DUMB person would buy one expecting outstanding quaility or reliaibity. I bought it cause it was cheap - and served the purpose of watching my DVD's.
it took 20 years for vcr's to get sub $100, by mid-summer DVD players will be sub $50!
#11
DVD Talk Legend
Well, I just replaced my RCA 5215 (I think that was the #) with an APEX 5131 (its the 3-disk carousel one) and I LOVE it! I wanted to play SVCDs and MP3s.
It was $79.97 at Circuit City (open box item). I figure at that price if it does crap out, I'll just get a new one.
Is there anything I SHOULD watch for with it or be aware of?
It was $79.97 at Circuit City (open box item). I figure at that price if it does crap out, I'll just get a new one.
Is there anything I SHOULD watch for with it or be aware of?
Last edited by Snowmaker; 04-17-02 at 11:07 AM.