WiLAN to assist in licensing Espial's patent portfolio

OTTAWA, Feb. 13, 2013 /CNW/ - Espial^® Group Inc. ("Espial" or the "Company"), (TSX: ESP), a leader in on-demand TV software and solutions, today announced that Wi-LAN Inc. ("WiLAN") (TSX:WIN) (NASD:WILN) and Espial have entered into an agreement that will see WiLAN assist Espial in licensing certain of Espial's patents related to video-over-IP technology.

"Espial is a pioneer in delivery and distribution of video-over-IP networks. We have invested significantly in innovation and developed a deep intellectual property portfolio," said Jaison Dolvane, President & CEO, Espial. "We believe our patents are core to our products, which have been commercially deployed in many countries since the early 2000s, and are quite valuable to the advancement of the video-over-IP industry."

Added Dolvane, "WiLAN's proven track record makes WiLAN the right partner to lead the licensing of our patented technologies. We are excited for the opportunity to work with WiLAN."

"We believe Espial has important patented inventions in the growing video-over-IP market," said Jim Skippen, President & CEO, WiLAN. "This partnership brings together two companies with a breadth of experience developing and licensing digital TV technology and we will work to develop a licensing program beneficial to both companies."

WiLAN's subsidiary Gladios IP will assume day-to-day responsibility for developing programs aimed at licensing Espial's patents. Under the terms of the agreement, Espial and WiLAN will share the net revenues generated. All other terms of the agreement are confidential.

About Espial (www.espial.com)
Espial is a leading supplier of digital TV and IPTV software and solutions to cable MSOs and telecommunications operators as well as consumer electronics manufacturers. Espial's middleware, video-on-demand, and browser products power a diverse range of pay-TV and Internet TV business models. Over 10 million licenses of its patented software are in use across the world. Espial is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada and has offices in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Visit www.espial.com or contact via phone at +1 613 230 4770.

About WiLAN (www.wi-lan.com)
WiLAN, founded in 1992, is a leading technology innovation and licensing company.  WiLAN has licensed its intellectual property to over 260 companies worldwide.  Inventions in our portfolio have been licensed by companies that manufacture or sell a wide range of communication and consumer electronics products including 3G and 4G handsets, Wi-Fi-enabled laptops, Wi-Fi and broadband routers, xDSL infrastructure equipment, cellular base stations and digital television receivers.  WiLAN has a large and growing portfolio of more than 3,000 issued or pending patents.  For more information: www.wilan.com.

Forward Looking Information
This press release contains information that is forward looking information with respect to Espial within the meaning of Section 138.4(9) of the Ontario Securities Act (forward looking statements) and other applicable securities laws. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of terms such as "may", "will", "should", "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "intend", "estimate", "predict", "potential", "continue" or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. In particular, statements or assumptions about the completion of the proposed acquisition of ANT and the timing thereof, the anticipated synergies of such acquisition, economic conditions, benefits of new customer and partner relationships, future opportunities for the company and products and any other statements regarding Espial's objectives (and strategies to achieve such objectives), future expectations, beliefs, goals or prospects are or involve forward-looking information.

Forward-looking information is based on certain factors and assumptions. While the company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect. Forward-looking information, by its nature necessarily involves known and unknown risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements or could cause our current objectives and strategies to change, including but not limited to ability to successfully license the patents to third parties, the risk of litigation related to the licensing of the patents, changing conditions and other risks associated with the on-demand TV software industry and the market segments in which Espial operates, competition, Espial's ability to effectively develop its distribution channels and generate increased demand for its products, economic conditions, technological change,  unanticipated changes in our costs, regulatory changes, litigation, the emergence of new opportunities, many of which are beyond our control and current expectation or knowledge.

Additional risks and uncertainties affecting Espial can be found in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. If any of these risks or uncertainties were to materialize, or if the factors and assumptions underlying the forward-looking information were to prove incorrect, actual results could vary materially from those that are expressed or implied by the forward-looking information contained herein and our current objectives or strategies may change. Espial assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date hereof.

SOURCE ESPIAL GROUP