SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

               PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE
                        SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
                              (AMENDMENT NO. __)

Filed by the Registrant                     /X/

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant  / /

Check the appropriate box:
/ / Preliminary Proxy Statement
/ / Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
    14a-6(e)(2))
/X/ Definitive Proxy Statement
/ / Definitive Additional Materials
/ / Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12

                              COPYTELE, INC.
   ------------------------------------------------------------------------
               (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)


   ------------------------------------------------------------------------
   (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

/X/ No fee required

/ / Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11

    (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

    (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

    (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
        pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the
        filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

    (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

    (5) Total fee paid:

/ / Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

/ / Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
    0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
    previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number,
    or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

    (1) Amount Previously Paid:

    (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

    (3) Filing Party:

    (4) Date Filed:



                                 COPYTELE, INC.
                            ------------------------
                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

                                 JULY 29, 1998
                            ------------------------
 
TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF COPYTELE, INC.
 
     You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the
'Annual Meeting') of CopyTele, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the 'Company'), to
be held at the Fox Hollow, Woodbury, New York, on Wednesday, July 29, 1998, at
10:30 A.M., for the following purposes:
 
          (1) To elect five directors.
 
          (2) To ratify the selection of Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public
     accountants, as independent auditors of the Company for the fiscal year
     ending October 31, 1998.
 
          (3) To transact such other business as may properly come before the
     Annual Meeting or any adjournments thereof.
 
     The Board of Directors by resolution has fixed the close of business on
June 22, 1998 as the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled
to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting and at any adjournment thereof
and only holders of record of Common Stock at the close of business on such date
will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting.
 
     PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND PROMPTLY MAIL THE ENCLOSED PROXY SO THAT
YOUR SHARES MAY BE REPRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND
AND VOTE IN PERSON.
 
                                           By Order of the Board of Directors,


                                                     /s/ Anne Rotondo
 
                                                       ANNE ROTONDO
                                                        Secretary
 
Huntington Station, New York

June 29, 1998



                                 COPYTELE, INC.
                             900 WALT WHITMAN ROAD
                       HUNTINGTON STATION, NEW YORK 11746
 
                            ------------------------
 
                                PROXY STATEMENT
 
                            ------------------------
 
                         ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

                                 JULY 29, 1998
 
                            ------------------------
 
     This Proxy Statement is furnished to the holders of Common Stock, par value
$.01 per share (the 'Common Stock'), of CopyTele, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the 'Company'), in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of
Directors of the Company for use at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be
held on Wednesday, July 29, 1998, and at any adjournments thereof (the 'Annual
Meeting'). This Proxy Statement and the accompanying form of proxy are first
being sent to shareholders on or about June 29, 1998.
 
RECORD DATE
 
     The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on June 22, 1998 as
the record date (the 'Record Date') for the determination of shareholders
entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting. Each such shareholder
will be entitled to one vote for each share of Common Stock held on all matters
to come before the Annual Meeting and may vote in person or by proxy authorized
in writing. As of the Record Date, there were 57,871,176 shares of Common Stock
issued and outstanding.
 
MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED
 
     At the Annual Meeting, shareholders will be asked to consider and vote upon
the election of five directors and to ratify the selection of Arthur Andersen
LLP as the Company's independent auditors for fiscal year 1998. The Board of
Directors has not received timely notice, and does not know of any matters that
are to be brought before the Annual Meeting other than as set forth in the
Notice of Annual Meeting. If any other matters properly come before the Annual
Meeting, the persons named in the enclosed form of proxy or their substitutes
will vote in accordance with their best judgement on such matters.
 
REQUIRED VOTES
 
     The affirmative vote of a plurality of the shares of Common Stock present
in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on
such matter is required for the election of directors, assuming a quorum is
present. Only shares of Common Stock that are voted in favor of a nominee will
be counted toward that nominee's achievement of a plurality. Shares of Common
Stock held by shareholders present in person at the Annual Meeting that are not
voted for a nominee or shares held by shareholders represented at the Annual
Meeting by proxy from which authority to vote for a nominee has been properly
withheld (including broker non-votes) will not be counted toward that nominee's
achievement of a plurality.
 
     Assuming a quorum is present, the affirmative vote of the holders of a
majority of the shares of Common Stock present in person or represented by proxy
and entitled to vote on such matter at the Annual Meeting is required for
ratification of the selection of Arthur Andersen LLP as the Company's
independent auditors for fiscal year 1998. With respect to an abstention, the
shares will be considered present and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting and
they will have the same effect as votes against the matter. With respect to
broker non-votes, the shares will not be considered entitled to vote at the
Annual Meeting for such matter and the broker non-votes will have the practical
effect of reducing the number of affirmative votes required to achieve a
majority vote for such matter by reducing the total number of shares from which
the majority is calculated.
 
                                       1



VOTING AND REVOCATION OF PROXIES
 
     Shareholders are requested to complete, date, sign and promptly return the
accompanying form of proxy in the enclosed envelope. Common Stock represented by
properly executed proxies received by the Company and not revoked will be voted
at the Annual Meeting in accordance with the instructions contained therein. If
instructions are not given, proxies will be voted FOR the election of each
nominee for election as a director named herein and FOR the ratification of the
selection of Arthur Andersen LLP as the Company's independent auditors for
fiscal year 1998.
 
     Any proxy signed and returned by a shareholder may be revoked at any time
before it is voted by filing with the Secretary of the Company written notice of
such revocation or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date or by attending
the Annual Meeting and voting in person. Attendance at the Annual Meeting will
not in and of itself constitute revocation of a proxy.
 
PROXY SOLICITATION
 
     The Company will bear the costs of solicitations of proxies for the Annual
Meeting. In addition to solicitation by mail, directors, officers and regular
employees of the Company may solicit proxies from shareholders by telephone,
telegram, personal interview or otherwise. Such directors, officers and
employees will not receive additional compensation, but may be reimbursed for
out-of-pocket expenses in connection with such solicitation. Brokers, nominees,
fiduciaries and other custodians have been requested to forward soliciting
material to the beneficial owners of Common Stock held of record by them, and
such custodians will be reimbursed for their reasonable expenses.
 
                             ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
 
     Five directors are to be elected at the Annual Meeting by the holders of
Common Stock, each to serve until the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders and
until his successor shall be elected and shall qualify. All of the nominees at
present are available for election as members of the Board of Directors. If for
any reason a nominee becomes unavailable for election, the proxies solicited by
the Board of Directors will be voted for a substitute nominee selected by the
Board of Directors. Information regarding the nominees is as follows:
 


                                                 POSITION WITH THE COMPANY
NAME                                              AND PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION           AGE    DIRECTOR SINCE
- ----------------------------------------  ----------------------------------------   ----   --------------
                                                                                   
Denis A. Krusos.........................  Director, Chairman of the Board and          70        1982
                                            Chief Executive Officer
Frank J. DiSanto........................  Director and President                       73        1982
Gerald J. Bentivegna....................  Director, Vice President--Finance            48        1995
                                            and Chief Financial Officer
John R. Shonnard........................  Director                                     82        1988
George P. Larounis......................  Director                                     70        1997

 
     Mr. Krusos has been a Director, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer of the Company since November 1982. He holds an M.S.E.E. degree from
Newark College of Engineering, a B.E.E. degree from City College of New York and
a Juris Doctor from St. John's University and is a member of the New York bar.
 
     Mr. DiSanto has been a Director and President of the Company since November
1982. He holds a B.E.E. degree from Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn and an
M.E.E. degree from New York University.
 
     Mr. Bentivegna has been Vice President--Finance and Chief Financial Officer
since September 1994 and was elected a Director in July 1995. Prior to joining
the Company, Mr. Bentivegna was employed at Marino Industries Corp. for
approximately 10 years, where he served as Controller, Treasurer and Chief
Financial Officer. He holds a M.B.A. degree from Long Island University and a
B.B.A. from Dowling College.
 
     Mr. Shonnard has been a Director of the Company since January 1988. He had
been a research consultant to the Company from August 1983 until his retirement
in May 1988. Mr. Shonnard was engaged in development
 
                                       2



engineering in the communications field for over fifty years and has held
numerous patents in the communications field.
 
     Mr. Larounis has been a Director of the Company since September 1997 prior
to which he served as a consultant to the Company. Mr. Larounis held numerous
positions as a senior international executive of Bendix International and Allied
Signal. He has also served on the Boards of Directors of numerous affiliates of
Allied Signal in Europe, Asia and Australia. He holds a B.E.E. degree from the
University of Michigan and a J.D. degree from New York University.
 
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
 
     In fiscal 1997, Peri D. Krusos, Denis Z. Krusos and Daniel A. DiSanto each
exercised warrants to purchase 32,940 shares of common stock at an exercise
price of $5.10 per share of the Company's common stock. The exercise price
represented the fair market value of such stock on the date of issuance of these
warrants, subsequently adjusted for the two-for-one stock splits declared by the
Company in February 1991 and May 1996 and the anti-dilution provisions of the
warrants. The warrants were issued in fiscal 1992 in conjunction with sales of
common stock by the Company to the foregoing individuals. Peri D. Krusos and
Denis Z. Krusos are the daughter and son, respectively, of Denis A. Krusos, and
Daniel A. DiSanto is the son of Frank J. DiSanto.
 
     As of June 12, 1998, there were no warrants outstanding.
 
BOARD COMMITTEES, FUNCTIONS AND ATTENDANCE
 
     The Company has an Audit Committee consisting of Messrs. Denis A. Krusos,
John R. Shonnard and George P. Larounis. The primary functions of this committee
are to review the internal controls and financial statements of the Company,
recommend independent public accountants to the Board of Directors and review
the results of the independent public accountants' audits.
 
     The Company has a Stock Option Committee consisting of Mr. George P.
Larounis and Mr. John R. Shonnard which administers the CopyTele, Inc. 1993
Stock Option Plan, as amended (the '1993 Plan').
 
     The Company currently has no other standing, nominating or compensation
committees of the Board of Directors or committees performing similar functions.
 
     Three (3) meetings of the Board of Directors, one (1) meeting of the Audit
Committee and six (6) meetings of the Stock Option Committee were held during
the fiscal year ended October 31, 1997. During such year, each director attended
at least 75% of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board of Directors and
committee on which he served while a member thereof.
 
                                       3



                       PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF COMMON STOCK
 
     The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the
Company's common stock beneficially owned as of June 12, 1998 by (a) each person
who is known by the management of the Company to be the beneficial owner of more
than 5% of the Company's outstanding common stock, (b) each director or
executive officer of the Company and (c) all directors and executive officers as
a group:
 


                                                                        AMOUNT AND NATURE OF
                                                                             BENEFICIAL           PERCENT
NAME AND ADDRESS OF BENEFICIAL OWNER                                      OWNERSHIP(1)(2)         OF CLASS
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------   --------------------      --------
                                                                                            
Denis A. Krusos .....................................................         7,230,940             11.95%
900 Walt Whitman Road
Huntington Station, NY 11746

Frank J. DiSanto ....................................................         6,772,960(3)          11.22%
900 Walt Whitman Road
Huntington Station, NY 11746

Gerald J. Bentivegna ................................................           246,000               .42%
900 Walt Whitman Road
Huntington Station, NY 11746

George P. Larounis ..................................................           242,500               .42%
15-17 A. Tsoha St.
11521 Athens, Greece

John R. Shonnard ....................................................           327,200(4)            .56%
12521 Rios Road
San Diego, CA 92128

Frank W. Trischetta .................................................           423,000               .73%
900 Walt Whitman Road
Huntington Station, NY 11746

All Directors and Executive Officers as a Group
  (6 persons) .......................................................        15,242,600(3)(4)       23.78%

 
- ------------------
(1) A beneficial owner of a security includes any person who directly or
    indirectly has or shares voting power and/or investment power with respect
    to such security or has the right to obtain such voting power and/or
    investment power within sixty (60) days. Except as otherwise noted, each
    designated beneficial owner in this report has sole voting power and
    investment power with respect to the shares of the Company's common stock
    beneficially owned by such person.
 
(2) Includes 2,647,180 shares, 2,477,180 shares, 244,000 shares, 242,500 shares,
    197,600 shares, 423,000 shares and 6,231,460 shares as to which Denis A.
    Krusos, Frank J. DiSanto, Gerald J. Bentivegna, George P. Larounis, John R.
    Shonnard, Frank W. Trischetta and all directors and executive officers as a
    group, respectively, have the right to acquire within 60 days upon exercise
    of options granted pursuant to the Company's Stock Option Plan adopted in
    1987 (the '1987 Plan') and/or the 1993 Plan.
 
(3) Includes 2,000,000 shares held by the Frank J. DiSanto Revocable Living
    Trust. Mr. DiSanto is the trustee and has sole voting and investment power
    of the trust.
 
(4) Includes 129,600 shares of the Company's common stock, all of which are held
    in a revocable trust by the Wells Fargo Bank (successor of the First
    Interstate Bank), as trustee of such trust. Mr. Shonnard and his wife, Janet
    L. Shonnard, are the beneficiaries of such trust and, under certain
    circumstances, may exercise the voting power and investment power of the
    trust jointly.
 
                                       4



                COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
 
     Messrs. Denis A. Krusos, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and
Director, Frank J. DiSanto, President and Director, Frank W. Trischetta, Senior
Vice President--Marketing and Sales, and Gerald J. Bentivegna, Vice
President--Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Director, are the executive
officers of the Company. While there are no formal agreements, Denis A. Krusos
and Frank J. DiSanto waived any and all rights to receive salary and related
pension benefits for an undetermined period of time commencing November 1, 1985.
As a result, Mr. Krusos received no salary or bonus during the last three fiscal
years. Except for Mr. Trischetta, no other executive officer received a salary
or bonus in excess of $100,000 during the fiscal year ended October 31, 1997.
The following is compensation information regarding Mr. Krusos and Mr.
Trischetta for the fiscal years ended October 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995:
 
                           SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
 


                                                                                      LONG-TERM COMPENSATION
                                                          FISCAL         ANNUAL         AWARDS SECURITIES
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION                             YEAR ENDED    COMPENSATION    UNDERLYING OPTIONS (#)
- ---------------------------                             ----------    ------------    ----------------------
 
                                                                             
Denis A. Krusos .....................................    10/31/97             --              575,000
     Chairman of the Board,                              10/31/96             --              575,000
     Chief Executive Officer and Director                10/31/95             --              900,000
 
Frank W. Trischetta .................................    10/31/97       $152,500               30,000
     Senior Vice President--                             10/31/96       $117,600              155,000
     Marketing and Sales

 
     The following is information regarding stock options granted to Mr. Krusos
and Mr. Trischetta pursuant to the 1993 Plan during the fiscal year ended
October 31, 1997:
 
                       OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
 


                                                                                                    POTENTIAL REALIZABLE
                                                                                                           VALUE
                                                                                                     AT ASSUMED ANNUAL
                                                                                                           RATES
                                  NUMBER OF         PERCENT OF                                         OF STOCK PRICE
                                  SECURITIES       TOTAL OPTIONS                                        APPRECIATION
                                  UNDERLYING        GRANTED TO                                        FOR OPTION TERM
                                   OPTIONS         EMPLOYEES IN        EXERCISE      EXPIRATION    ----------------------
NAME                            GRANTED (#)(1)      FISCAL YEAR      PRICE ($/SH)       DATE        5% ($)      10% ($)
- ----                            --------------    ---------------    ------------    ----------    --------    ----------
                                                                                             
Denis A. Krusos..............       325,000            11.19%          $  4.500(2)    12/16/06     $919,758    $2,330,848
Denis A. Krusos..............       250,000             8.60%          $  4.375(2)     4/20/07     $687,853    $1,743,156
Frank W. Trischetta..........        30,000             1.03%          $  4.500(2)    12/16/06     $ 84,901    $  215,155

 
- ------------------
 
(1) The options are exercisable in whole or in part commencing one year
    following the date of grant unless otherwise accelerated. The options are
    not issued in tandem with stock appreciation or similar rights and are not
    transferable other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. The
    options terminate upon termination of employment, except that in the case of
    death, disability or termination for reasons other than cause, options may
    be exercised for certain periods of time thereafter as set forth in the 1993
    Plan.
 
(2) The exercise price of these options was equal to the fair market value of
    the underlying common stock on the date of grant. These options are
    nonqualified options.
 
                                       5



     The following is information regarding stock option exercises during fiscal
1997 by Mr. Krusos and Mr. Trischetta and the values of their options as of
October 31, 1997:
 
                AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
                            AND FY-END OPTION/VALUES
 


                                                                          NUMBER OF                        VALUE OF
                                                                    SECURITIES UNDERLYING                UNEXERCISED
                                 SHARES                              UNEXERCISED OPTIONS             IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS
                                ACQUIRED                              AT FISCAL YEAR END          AT FISCAL YEAR END ($)(2)
                               ON EXERCISE         VALUE         ----------------------------    ----------------------------
NAME                               (#)        REALIZED ($)(1)    EXERCISABLE    UNEXERCISABLE    EXERCISABLE    UNEXERCISABLE
- ----                           -----------    ---------------    -----------    -------------    -----------    -------------
                                                                                              
Denis A. Krusos.............           --                --        2,347,180            --       $   175,000             --
Frank W. Trischetta.........           --                --          363,000        30,000       $   283,375      $   7,500

 
- ------------------
(1) Such value is determined by applying the net difference between the selling
    price of the stock sold on day of exercise and the exercise price for the
    options to the number of options exercised.
 
(2) Such value was determined by applying the net difference between the last
    sales price of the Company's common stock on October 31, 1997 and the
    exercise price for the options to the number of unexercised in-the-money
    options held. The exercise price of these options was at least equal to the
    fair market value of the underlying common stock as defined in the 1993
    Plan.
 
     There is no present arrangement for cash compensation of directors for
services in that capacity. Under the 1993 Plan, each non-employee director
elected to the Board of Directors is entitled to receive nonqualified stock
options to purchase 20,000 shares of common stock upon his initial election to
the Board of Directors and nonqualified stock options to purchase 40,000 shares
each subsequent year that such director is elected to the Board of Directors.
 
          REPORT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION*
 
     The Company is a development stage enterprise, that has had limited
revenues to support its operations since its inception. In view of the fact that
the Company's executive officers, with the exception of Gerald J. Bentivegna and
Frank W. Trischetta, have waived all salary and related pension benefits for
fiscal year 1997, the Board of Directors did not adopt any policy with respect
to the payment of cash compensation to the executive officers of the Company for
such period. At such time as the executive officers of the Company, other than
Mr. Bentivegna and Mr. Trischetta, withdraw their waivers, it is contemplated
that the Board of Directors will develop and adopt a compensation policy for its
executive officers generally, including the Company's Chief Executive Officer.
Although a salary was paid to each of Mr. Bentivegna and Mr. Trischetta in
fiscal year 1997, such compensation was not part of an overall compensation
policy, was determined solely by the Company's Chief Executive Officer, and was
not specifically related to corporate performance.
 
     Generally, options under the 1993 Plan are granted as an inducement in
respect of future performance. During fiscal year 1997, options were granted to
Denis A. Krusos, Frank J. DiSanto, Gerald J. Bentivegna and Frank W. Trischetta
for 575,000, 575,000, 35,000 and 30,000 shares of Common Stock, respectively,
under the 1993 Plan. In granting such options, the Stock Option Committee, which
is comprised solely of nonemployee directors of the Company, did not take into
account the number of shares of Common Stock owned by such persons. The 1993
Plan also provides for the granting of stock appreciation rights, although no
stock appreciation rights have been granted under the 1993 Plan. The Board of
Directors believes that the 1993 Plan has been, and will continue to be,
effective in attracting and retaining executives and employees.
 
     With certain exceptions, Section 162(m) ('Section 162(m)') of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, denies a deduction to the Company for
compensation paid to certain executive officers in excess of $1 million per
executive per taxable year (including any deduction with respect to the exercise
of a nonqualified option or right or the disqualifying disposition of stock
purchases pursuant to an incentive option). The Company believes that options
(provided such options are granted at fair market value) and rights granted
under the 1993 Plan should qualify for the performance-based compensation
exemption to Section 162(m).
 
                                       6



     This Report has been prepared by the Board of Directors.
 

                                    
Denis A. Krusos                        John R. Shonnard
Frank J. DiSanto                       George P. Larounis
Gerald J. Bentivegna

 
- ------------------
* The disclosure contained in the Report of the Board of Directors on Executive
  Compensation and the Performance Graph which follows this section is not
  incorporated by reference into any prior filings by the Company under the
  Securities Act of 1993, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
  amended, that incorporated future filings or portions thereof (including this
  Proxy Statement).
 
                                       7



                      STOCKHOLDER RETURN PERFORMANCE GRAPH
 
     Set forth below is a graph showing the five-year cumulative total return
for (i) the Common Stock, (ii) the NASDAQ Stock Market U.S. Index, a broad
market index covering shares of common stock of domestic companies that are
listed on NASDAQ, and (iii) the NASDAQ Electronic Components Stock Index, a
group of companies that are engaged in the manufacture of electronic components
and related accessories with a Standard Industrial Classification code of 367
and listed on NASDAQ.
 
                        COMPARISON OF 5 YEAR CUMULATIVE
                                TOTAL RETURN (1)
 
                               [GRAPHIC OMITTED]
 


Plot Points

  (TO COME)




                                                                            FISCAL YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,
                                                                     --------------------------------------------
                                                                     1992    1993    1994    1995    1996    1997
                                                                     ----    ----    ----    ----    ----    ----
                                                                                           
CopyTele, Inc.....................................................   $100      90      39      67     114      76
NASDAQ Stock Market U.S. (2)......................................   $100     129     130     174     206     271
NASDAQ Electronic Components (2)..................................   $100     171     189     379     462     633

 
- ------------------
(1) The comparison of total return on investment for each fiscal year ended
    October 31 assumes that $100 was invested on November 1, 1992 in each of the
    Company, the NASDAQ Stock Market U.S. Index and the NASDAQ Electronic
    Component Index with investment weighted on the basis of market
    capitalization and all dividends reinvested. In addition, the total returns
    account for the Company's two-for-one stock split declared in May 1996.
 
(2) The total returns for each NASDAQ index are based on information provided by
    NASDAQ, which had been prepared by the Center for Research in Securities
    Prices at the University of Chicago.
 
                                       8



                             SELECTION OF AUDITORS
 
     The shareholders are being asked to ratify the selection of Arthur Andersen
LLP as the independent auditors of the Company for the fiscal year ending
October 31, 1998. A representative of Arthur Andersen LLP will be present at the
Annual Meeting to answer questions and to make a statement if he desires to do
so.
 
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THIS PROPOSAL.
 
                             SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
 
     All proposals from shareholders to be included in the proxy materials to be
distributed by the Company in connection with the next annual meeting must be
received by the Secretary of the Company, 900 Walt Whitman Road, Huntington
Station, New York 11746, not later than the close of business on March 1, 1999.
 
     In addition, in accordance with Article I, Section 10 of the Amended and
Restated By-laws of the Company, in order to be properly brought before the next
annual meeting, a matter must have been (i) specified in a written notice of
such meeting (or any supplement thereto) given to the stockholders by or at the
direction of the Board of Directors (which would be accomplished if a
stockholder proposal were received by the Secretary of the Company as set forth
in the preceding paragraph), (ii) brought before such meeting at the direction
of the Board of Directors or the Chairman of the meeting, or (iii) specified in
a written notice given by or on behalf of a stockholder of record on the record
date for such meeting, or a duly authorized proxy for such stockholder, which
conforms to the requirements of Article I, Section 10 of the Amended and
Restated By-laws of the Company and is delivered personally to, or mailed to and
received by, the Secretary of the Company at the address set forth in the
preceding paragraph not less than 45 days prior to the first annivarsary of the
date of the notice accompanying this Proxy Statement; provided however, that
such notice need not be given more than 75 days prior to the next annual
meeting.
 
                                 ANNUAL REPORT
 
     A copy of the Annual Report of the Company, including financial statements
for the fiscal year ended October 31, 1997 accompanies this Proxy Statement.
 
                                           By Order of the Board of Directors,

                                            /s/ Anne Rotondo
 
                                               ANNE ROTONDO
                                                Secretary
 
Huntington Station, New York
June 29, 1998
 
                                       9



                                COPYTELE, INC.

                        Annual Meeting of Shareholders
                          July 29, 1998 - 10:30 A.M.
                                To be held at:

                                  FOX HOLLOW

                             7725 Jericho Turnpike
                              Woodbury, New York
                                (516) 921-1415

Long Island Expressway to Exit 44 North (which is Rt. 135 North) to Exit 14
East (which is Woodbury 25 East)

Northern State Parkway to Exit 36B North (which is Rt. 135 North) to Exit 14
East (which is Woodbury 25 East)

Belt Parkway to Southern State Parkway to Exit 28A North (which is Rt. 135
North) to Exit 14 East (which is Woodbury 25 East)

At Exit 14 East, make right turn onto Jericho Turnpike (25 East). Fox Hollow is
on left after first traffic light.



                                     1 



                                                                           PROXY

           THIS PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
                                COPYTELE, INC.
                Annual Meeting of Shareholders - July 29, 1998

         THE UNDERSIGNED shareholder of CopyTele, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the 'Company'), hereby appoints DENIS A. KRUSOS and FRANK J. DiSANTO, or
either of them, with full power of substitution, as the proxy or proxies of
the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company to be
held at the Fox Hollow, Woodbury, New York, on July 29, 1998, at 10:30 a.m.,
and any adjournment(s) thereof, and to vote thereat all shares of Common Stock
of the Company which the undersigned would be entitled to vote if personally
present in accordance with the instructions on the reverse side of this Proxy.

         The shares represented by this Proxy will be voted as specified on
the reverse side hereof, but if no specification is made, the proxies intend
to vote FOR the election of all nominees as directors, FOR the ratification of
the selection of auditors and, in the discretion of such proxies, for or
against such other matters as may properly come before said meeting or any
adjournment(s) thereof.

             (continued - to be dated and signed on reverse side)




               Please Detach and Mail in the Envelope Provided


        Please mark your
A  /X/  vote as indicated
        in this example



                   FOR all nominees            WITHHOLD
                  listed to the right         AUTHORITY
                  (except as marked     to vote for all nominees
                   to the contrary)       listed to the right
                                                                        
                                                                         Nominees:  Denis A. Krusos
1. ELECTION                                                                         Frank J. DiSanto
   OF                    / /                     / /                                Gerald J. Bentivegna
   DIRECTORS                                                                        John R. Shonnard
                                                                                    George P. Larounis


(Instruction: To withhold authority to vote for any individual
nominee, mark FOR and write that nominee's name below.)


- --------------------------------------------------------------


                                                  FOR      AGAINST      ABSTAIN
2. RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF ARTHUR 
   ANDERSEN LLP AS INDEPENDENT AUDITORS OF        / /        / /          / /
   THE COMPANY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING 
   OCTOBER 31, 1998.


3. IN THEIR DISCRETION, THE PROXIES ARE 
   AUTHORIZED TO VOTE UPON SUCH OTHER MATTERS     / /        / /          / /
   AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING OR 
   ANY ADJOURNMENT(S) THEREOF.

 Receipt is acknowledged of Notice of said Meeting, Proxy Statement and Annual
 Report for the fiscal year ended October 31, 1997.

Please date, sign and return this Proxy Card using the enclosed envelope.


                      (Seal)                        (Seal)
- ----------------------       -----------------------        Dated:        , 1998

NOTE: Please sign here exactly as your name appears above. When signing as
      attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give your
      title, as such. Each joint owner or trustee should sign the proxy.