VIASPACE (VSPC) 8-K Viaspace Files Two Patent Applications for Tamper Resistance and Authentication of Fuel Cartridges

Exhibit 99.1

VIASPACE FILES TWO PATENT APPLICATIONS FOR TAMPER RESISTANCE AND AUTHENTICATION OF FUEL
CARTRIDGES

PASADENA, CA.—May 3, 2006—VIASPACE Inc. (OTCBB: VSPC), a company that transforms proven space and defense technologies from NASA and the Department of Defense into hardware and software solutions, announced today that its subsidiary, Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Corporation, has filed two provisional patent applications on tamper resistance and authentication of fuel cartridges for fuel cell powered portable electronic devices.

Fuel cell cartridge safety regulations published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) require that cartridges meet stringent safety standards including child resistance. The patent application on tamper with resistance includes several low cost approaches that are applicable to fuel cell cartridges, and also to other containers that hold substances that need to be kept out of the reach of children.

Manufacturers of fuel cell powered portable electronic devices want to be assured that the cartridges inserted into these devices meet the stringent safety standards required by the IEC. They are concerned that poor quality counterfeit or “knock off” cartridges may be produced and used in their laptops or cell phones. These poor quality cartridges may leak and cause a fire or other damage to their equipment, or harm users. One way to verify that the cartridge is genuine is through a process called authentication. For example, the laptop computer will not open the valve to the fuel cell for a counterfeit cartridge.

Dr. Carl Kukkonen, VIASPACE CEO, commented, “With these latest patent applications, combined with the intellectual property licensed from Caltech, VIASPACE and Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Corporation are well positioned in the fuel cell cartridge business. Tamper resistance and authentication are important technologies that apply to fuel cell cartridges, but also may have substantial markets in other areas. Our focus has been to develop technologies that are very low cost and therefore can be implemented in everyday consumer products.”

About VIASPACE: VIASPACE is a diversified technology company with knowledge and expertise in energy/fuel cells, microelectronics, sensors, homeland security and public safety, and information and computational technology. Founded in 1998 with the objective of transforming proven space and defense technologies from NASA and the Department of Defense into hardware and software solutions that solve today’s complex problems, VIASPACE benefits from important patent and software licenses from Caltech, which manages NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. For more information, please visit our website atwww.VIASPACE.com, or contact for Investor Relations, Dr. Jan Vandersande, Director of Communications at 800-517-8050, orIR@VIASPACE.com.

Press contact: Carl Kukkonen 626-768-3360
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