General Patent Settles Law Suit with Conair

SUFFERN, NY, August 17, 2004 -- General Patent Corporation (GPC), a leading contingency IP licensing and enforcement firm headquartered in Suffern, New York, announced today that it has settled on behalf of its client, Zip Clip LLC (Zip Clip) a patent infringement lawsuit against Conair Corporation of Stamford, CT (Conair). GPC represents Zip Clip in the enforcement of its patent portfolio.

GPC brought suit on behalf of Zip Clip against Conair in December of 2003, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Conair ultimately agreed to settle the lawsuit.

The products, invented by Peter Franzino of Jacksonville, FL, and covered by his utility and design patents, are plastic clips for hair rollers that are widely sold in the beauty products industry.

"We are happy to have obtained this settlement for our client," said Paul Lerner, GPC's Sr. Vice President and General Counsel, "and we hope that the rest of the industry will respect this intellectual property without the need for litigation."

About Zip Clip LLC

Zip Clip LLC is the owner of United States Patent Nos. 4,508,124, "Hair Curling Spool Holder," and D293,489, "Spring Loaded Clip for a Hair Roller or the Like." Zip Clip is a portfolio company of IP Holdings LLC.