CenterFrame Files Observation Against ImageID Patent Application.

Business Editors

BOULDER, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 14, 2000

CenterFrame, developer of leading-edge event imaging technology, announced today that it has filed an Article 115 Observation in the European Patent Office against a patent application of ImageID, Ltd.

The objective of the Observation is to protect CenterFrame's proprietary technology in European countries such as Germany, France, Italy, Spain and England.

CenterFrame's technology identifies people in pictures, allowing event imaging operators to provide automatic distribution of personalized photographs on cruise ships, in theme and amusement parks, at conventions and resorts, for weddings and bar mitzvahs, and at a wide variety of other venues. The technology incorporates colored tags worn by the participants, which are identified and decoded from pictures by sophisticated image analysis software. Then, images relating to a specific participant are collected from an image database and made immediately available for viewing and purchase through on-site kiosks, by mail, or through Internet websites. CenterFrame's technology allows event imaging operators to handle more photographs with less labor, resulting in increased throughput, higher revenues, and greater profits for the Company's partners.

The Observation filed with the European Patent Office (EPO) details the relationship between CenterFrame's EPO patent application on this core technology and ImageID's patent application on similar material. The Observation notes that the priority date for ImageID's patent application is July 1998, nearly two years after CenterFrame's priority date, and four months after a related CenterFrame patent application was published. The Observation further details, claim by claim, the numerous similarities in the respective patent applications. The Observation requests that the EPO reject those parts of ImageID's patent application dealing with this material.

Representative CenterFrame and ImageID patent applications can be viewed at www.delphion.com/details?pn=WO09810358A1 and www.delphion.com/details?pn=WO00004711A1.

Dr. David Goldberg, CEO of CenterFrame, stated: "Our goal is not a contentious legal situation but, in order to protect our rights, we will use all legal means at our disposal to prevent ImageID from obtaining patents on our technology. Fortunately, this has not diverted our business focus, and we are looking forward shortly to good news with our pending patent applications as well as the release next quarter of our SureSight software."

CenterFrame engages in the development and commercialization of leading-edge technologies for the event imaging industry. CenterFrame, LLC, is based in Boulder, Colorado. For more information, visit the Company website at www.CenterFrame.net.