Sharp Corporation and AU Optronics Corp. announced that the companies have signed an LCD technology-related patent cross license agreement and will dismiss pending legal actions filed against each other.

For more information visit: www.sharpusa.com

Unedited press release follows:

Sharp to Sign Patent Cross License Agreement with AUO

April 15, 2011 — Sharp Corporation (hereinafter “Sharp”) and Taiwan’s AU Optronics Corp. (hereinafter “AUO”) signed a patent cross license agreement today. Both parties have reached an agreement to mutually utilize patents relating to LCD panels and LCD modules owned by each party (hereinafter “LCD related patents”) .

Both Sharp and AUO have led the LCD industry with development of advanced display technologies, and have built a strong and extensive patent portfolio in the field of TFT-LCD. Both parties have agreed to utilize LCD related patents of the other on the basis of mutual respect for each other’s intellectual property rights. This agreement will allow each company to innovate using the other company’s LCD related patents for the further advancement of TFT-LCD technologies.

Upon signing the patent cross license agreement, Sharp and AUO will dismiss all pending legal actions over LCD related patents that have been filed against each other.