US company Research Frontiers Inc. has announced that it has expanded its license agreement with Belgian glass maker Glaverbel SA, to include variable-light-transmission windows for architectural and …
US company Research Frontiers Inc. has announced that it has expanded its license agreement with Belgian glass maker Glaverbel SA, to include variable-light-transmission windows for architectural and automotive applications throughout most of the world. The agreement covers Research Frontiers“ suspended particle device (SPD) technology for controllable light transmission. The expanded agreement changes Glaverbel“s rights from exclusive to non-exclusive for automotive sun visor and rear-view mirror products, Research Frontiers said. Under the expanded pact, Glaverbel will pay Research Frontiers an undisclosed annual minimum royalty as well as an earned royalty of 5.0% of the net selling price of products sold under the agreement. Glaverbel has also agreed to give the company other valuable consideration, details of which were not disclosed. The US company stated that Glaverbel, which is controlled by Japan“s Asahi Glass Co. Ltd., will have the right to buy important SPD film material from other Research Frontiers licensees. Because of the non-exclusivity of the expanded pact, Research Frontiers said it is now in a position to consummate unlimited additional license agreements covering windows, rear-view mirrors and sun visors. It also said it would initiate action this year to bring SPD products more rapidly toward commercialization by investigating the feasibility of forming joint ventures with other companies, including automotive suppliers, to expedite product development.