CDT and Seiko-Epson today announced that the two companies have agreed the terms of a broad ranging cross-licensing deal. The impetus for the agreement has been driven by the results of a joint development project between the two companies that will show the world's first full colour plastic television in the first quarter of 2000.

CDT and Seiko-Epson have been jointly developing high definition displays for the last two years with the aim of using Seiko-Epson's ink jet printing technology to print light emitting polymer (LEP) displays using polymers developed by CDT. The two companies showed a monochrome display in February 1998.

CDT has developed true-colour red, green and blue, polymers that can be ink jet printed. The licensing agreement enables CDT to promote the licensing of both CDT's LEP technology and Seiko-Epson's ink jet printing technology for LEP display applications.

'CDT is delighted to have cross-licensed the results of its work with Seiko-Epson enabling them to exploit the intellectual property developed as a result of the joint development project. CDT is the gateway to companies looking to manufacture full colour displays,' said Mark Gostick, commercial director, CDT.

'The level of interest in a full colour plastic display is unprecedented. Its development has required a back-to-the-drawing board approach in order to overcome incompatibility issues between the polymer inks and the ink jet process,' said Jeremy Burroughes, research and development director, CDT.

'CDT and Seiko-Epson have overcome a major engineering challenge to develop a common architecture for a full colour LEP display. The two companies have solved issues that bridge both electronics and physics and generated significant intellectual property as a result,' said Dr Shimoda, director of basic research, Seiko-Epson.

'The colour LEP display is part of an ongoing development. CDT and Seiko-Epson announced a monochrome display in February 1998. The progress made by CDT and Seiko-Epson validates CDT's strategy of licensing and joint development with complementary partners,' said Danny Chapchal, executive chairman, CDT