EXHIBIT 99

News Release                 InterDigital
                             Creating a Wireless World
                                        InterDigital Communications Corporation
                                        781 Third Avenue
                                        King of Prussia, PA 19406-1409

Company Contacts:
Charles "Rip" Tilden &
Susan Sutton
(610) 878-7800

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 13, 1996

                  INTERDIGITAL ADOPTS SHAREHOLDERS RIGHTS PLAN

         King of Prussia, PA, December 13, 1996 . . . InterDigital
Communications Corporation (ASE: IDC) (http:// www.interdigital.com) announced
that today it has adopted, with the advice of Merrill Lynch, its investment
banker, a Shareholder Rights Plan and has declared a distribution of one Right
(a "Right") for each outstanding share of the Company's Common Stock and for
each share of Common Stock issued by the Company thereafter and prior to the
subsequent distribution date of the Rights to stockholders of record at the
close of business on January 3, 1997. Prior to such subsequent distribution
date, the Rights will trade with the Company's Common Stock. The Shareholder
Rights Plan was not adopted in response to any offer or proposal from any third
party to acquire the Company.

         The threshold for triggering subsequent distribution of the rights is
10 days following the acquisition by a non-exempt person as a result of which
such person becomes the beneficial owner of 15% or more of the then outstanding
shares of Company Common Stock, or 10 days following commencement of an offer to
acquire 15% or more of the then outstanding shares of Company Common Stock.
Beneficial ownership for purposes of the Plan generally excludes shares acquired
pursuant to Company stock-based plans for employees and directors.

         Each Right entitles the registered holder, subject to the terms of a
Rights Agreement, to purchase from the Company one one-thousandth of a share of
Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock or at a Purchase Price of $45.00
per Right, subject to adjustment.

         The Rights are not exercisable until the subsequent distribution date
and will expire at the close of business on the tenth anniversary of the Rights
Agreement unless redeemed by the Company as described below.

         As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, Rights Certificates
will be mailed to holders of record of Company Common Stock as of the close of
business on the Distribution Date and, thereafter, the separate Rights
Certificates alone will represent the Rights.

         In the event that (i) the Company is the surviving corporation in a
merger with an acquiring person and shares of Company Common Stock shall remain
outstanding, (ii) a person becomes the beneficial owner of 15% or more of the
then outstanding shares of Company Common Stock, (iii) an acquiring person
engages in one or more "self-dealing" transactions as set forth in the Rights
Agreement, or (iv) during such time as there is an acquiring person, an event
occurs which results in such acquiring person's ownership interest being
increased by more than 1% (e.g. by means of a reverse stock split or
recapitalization), then in each such case, each holder of a Right (other than
those held by an acquiring person) will thereafter have the right to receive,
upon exercise, Units of Preferred Stock (or, in certain circumstances, Company
Common Stock, cash, property or other securities of the Company) having a
current market value equal to two times the exercise price of the Right.

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         In the event that (i) the Company is acquired in a merger or other
business combination transaction and the Company is not the surviving
corporation (other than a merger described in the preceding paragraph), (ii) any
person consolidates or merges with the Company and all or part of the Company
Common Stock is converted or exchanged for securities, cash or property of any
other person or (iii) 50% or more of the Company's assets or earning power is
sold or transferred, each holder of a Right (other than those held by an
acquiring person) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise,
common stock of the acquiring person having a value equal to two times the
exercise price of the Right.

         A majority of the independent directors may redeem the Rights in whole,
but not in part, at a price of $.01 per Right (subject to adjustment in certain
events) (the "Redemption Price"), payable, at the election of such majority of
the Independent Directors, in cash or shares of Company Common Stock.
Immediately upon the action of a majority of the independent directors ordering
the redemption of the Rights, the Rights will terminate and the only right of
the holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price.

         Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no
rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right
to vote or to receive dividends. While the distribution of the Rights will not
be taxable to stockholders or to the Company, stockholders may, depending upon
the circumstances, recognize taxable income in the event that the Rights become
exercisable for Units of Preferred Stock (or other consideration).

         Any of the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended without
the approval of the holders of Company Common Stock at any time prior to the
Distribution Date. After the Distribution Date, the provisions of the Rights
Agreement may be amended in order to cure any ambiguity, defect or
inconsistency, to make changes which do not adversely affect the interests of
holders of Rights (excluding the interests of any acquiring person), or to
shorten or lengthen any time period under the Rights Agreement; provided
however, that no amendment to adjust the time period governing redemption shall
be made at such time as the Rights are not redeemable.

         Because of the nature of the Preferred Stock's dividend, liquidation
and voting rights, the economic value of one Unit of Series B Preferred Stock
that may be acquired upon the exercise of each Right should approximate the
economic value of one share of Common Stock.

         InterDigital develops and markets advanced wireless telecommunications
systems using proprietary digital technologies for voice and date
communications. Over 275 of its UltraPhone(R) TDMA systems have been sold
worldwide. InterDigital, in conjunction with Siemens AG and Samsung Electronics
Co., Ltd. is developing Broadband Code Division Multiple Access(TM) (B-CDMA(TM))
technology for use in future wireless systems and products. InterDigital
Technology Corporation (ITC), a subsidiary of InterDigital, holds and is the
licensor of an extensive patent portfolio on TDMA and B-CDMA technologies.


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