Media File: 1982
Sinclair in the News

Financial Times
February 13, 1982

Sinclair to be marketed in U.S. by Timex

By Jason Crisp

MR CLIVE SINCLAIR has licensed Timex, the U.S. watch and camera company, to market his highly successful computers throughout North America. Timex already make the computers, costing 70, for Sinclair Research at its factory in Dundee, Scotland. Sinclair is selling 15,000 personal computers a month in the U.S. by mail order. Both companies expect this to rise sharply as soon as Timex begins marketing directly in a few months time. Timex products are sold through 170,000 retail outlets in the U.S., not all of which will be selling the computer.

Timex will sell the ZX81 computer, printer and Sinclair produced software. It will also have the right to the Sinclair name, which is probably as well known in the U.S. as in Britain. Timex will pay Sinclair Research a royalty of 5 per cent on all computer hardware it sells in the U.S., including any products it develops itself, or buys from a third party.

Mr Sinclair also receives a royalty of 5 per cent on computer software if it was written by his company or 2½ per cent if it comes from another source.

Sinclair will continue to sell in the U.S. by mail order until Timex sales reach a certain unspecified level.