Document:

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                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.1

                               INPUT/OUTPUT, INC.

                  EMPLOYMENT INDUCEMENT STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

         THIS EMPLOYMENT INDUCEMENT STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is
made effective as of the _____ day of ________________, 2004 (the "Date of
Grant") by and between Input/Output, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), and Ian Williamson (the "Optionee").

         WHEREAS, the Company has entered into that certain Share Acquisition
Agreement between the Company, _____________________________________and the
Vendors (as defined therein), dated as of _____________________, relating to the
sale and purchase of entire share capital of Concept Systems Holdings Limited, a
private limited company incorporated in Scotland under the Companies Acts
("Concept").

         WHEREAS, the Optionee is an employee of Concept;

         WHEREAS, as a material inducement to the Optionee's entering into that
certain Employment Agreement dated February__, 2004 (the "Employment Agreement")
and the Optionee's agreement to be hired as a new employee of a subsidiary
within the Company's corporate group on the terms thereof the Company believes
that its interests will be served and advanced by granting the Optionee an
option to purchase shares of common stock, $_____ par value, of the Company.

         NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

         1.       Except as defined elsewhere herein, the words and phrases
defined in this Section 1 shall have the meaning set out in these definitions
throughout this Agreement, unless the context in which any such word or phrase
appears reasonably requires a broader, narrower, or different meaning.

                  (a)      "AFFILIATE" means any parent corporation and any
         subsidiary corporation. The term "parent corporation" means any
         corporation or other entity (other than the Company) in an unbroken
         chain of corporations or entities ending with the Company if, at the
         time of the action or transaction, each of the corporations or entities
         other than the Company owns stock or voting equity possessing 50
         percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes
         of stock or voting equity in one of the other corporations or entities
         in the chain. The term "subsidiary corporation" means any corporation
         or other entity (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of
         corporations or entities beginning with the Company if, at the time of
         the action or transaction, each of the corporations or entities other
         than the last corporation or entity in the unbroken chain owns stock or
         voting equity possessing 50 percent (50%) or more of the total combined
         voting power of all classes of stock or voting equity in one of the
         other corporations or entities in the chain.

                  (b)      "BOARD" means the board of directors of the Company.

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                  (c)      "CHANGE IN CONTROL" shall mean the occurrence of any
         of the following, after the Date of Grant:

                           (i)      The acquisition by any individual, entity or
                  group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of
                  the Exchange Act (a "Person")) of beneficial ownership (within
                  the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act)
                  of forty percent (40%) or more of either (i) the then
                  outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the
                  "Outstanding Company Stock") or (ii) the combined voting power
                  of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company
                  entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the
                  "Outstanding Company Voting Securities"); provided, however,
                  that the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change
                  in Control: (i) any acquisition directly from the Company or
                  any Subsidiary, (ii) any acquisition by the Company or any
                  Subsidiary or by any employee benefit plan (or related trust)
                  sponsored or maintained by the Company or any Subsidiary, or
                  (iii) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a
                  reorganization, merger, consolidation or similar business
                  combination involving the Company (a "Merger"), if, following
                  such Merger, the conditions described in clauses (i) and (ii)
                  of Section 5.7(c) below are satisfied;

                           (ii)     Individuals who, as of the Effective Date,
                  constitute the Board (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any
                  reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board;
                  provided, however, that any individual becoming a director
                  subsequent to the Effective Date whose election, or nomination
                  for election by the Company's stockholders, was approved by a
                  vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising
                  the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such
                  individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but
                  excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial
                  assumption of office occurs as a result of either an actual or
                  threatened election contest (a solicitation by any person or
                  group of persons for the purpose of opposing a solicitation of
                  proxies or consents by the Board with respect to the election
                  or removal of Directors at any annual or special meeting of
                  stockholders) or other actual or threatened solicitation of
                  proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the
                  Board;

                           (iii)    Approval by the stockholders of the Company
                  of a Merger, unless immediately following such Merger, (i)
                  substantially all of the holders of the Outstanding Company
                  Voting Securities immediately prior to such Merger
                  beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the
                  common stock of the corporation resulting from such Merger (or
                  its parent corporation) in substantially the same proportions
                  as their ownership of Outstanding Company Voting Securities
                  immediately prior to such Merger and (ii) at least a majority
                  of the members of the board of directors of the corporation
                  resulting from such Merger (or its parent corporation) were
                  members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of
                  the initial agreement providing for such Merger;

                           (iv)     The sale or other disposition of all or
                  substantially all of the assets of the Company.

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                  (d)      "CODE" means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
         as amended.

                  (e)      "COMMITTEE" means the Compensation Committee of the
         Board or such other committee designated by the Board.

                  (f)      "COMPANY" has the meaning set forth in the preamble
         of this Agreement.

                  (g)      "DISABILITY" means a mental or physical disability as
         determined under the then-established policies of the Company.

                  (h)      "EXCHANGE ACT" means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act
         of 1934, as amended from time to time.

                  (i)      "EXPIRATION DATE" has the meaning set forth in
         Section 3 hereof.

                  (j)      "FAIR MARKET VALUE" of the Stock as of any date means
         (a) the average of the high and low sale prices of the Stock on that
         date on the New York Stock Exchange; or (b) if the Stock is not listed
         on the New York Stock Exchange, the average of the high and low sale
         prices of the Stock on that date as reported on the principal
         securities exchange on which the Stock is listed; or (c) if the Stock
         is not listed on a securities exchange, the average of the high and low
         sale prices of the Stock on that date as reported on the NASDAQ
         National Market System; or (d) if the Stock is not listed on the NASDAQ
         National Market System, the average of the high and low bid quotations
         for the Stock on that date as reported by the National Quotation Bureau
         Incorporated; or (e) if none of the foregoing is applicable, an amount
         at the election of the Committee equal to (x) the average between the
         closing bid and ask prices per Share of Stock on the last preceding
         date on which those prices were reported or (y) that amount as
         determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

                  (k)      "MATURE SHARES" means shares of Stock that Optionee
         has held for at least six months.

                  (l)      "OPTION" has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a) of
         this Agreement.

                  (m)      "OPTIONEE" has the meaning set forth in the preamble
         of this Agreement.

                  (n)      "RETIRE" or "RETIREMENT" means retirement in good
         standing from the employ of the Company and all of its Affiliates for
         reason of age under then-established policies of the Company and its
         Affiliates.

                  (o)      "STOCK" means the common stock of the Company,
         $_______ par value or, in the event that the outstanding shares of
         common stock are later changed into or exchanged for a different class
         of stock or securities of the Company or another corporation, that
         other stock or security.

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         2.       GRANT; VESTING.

                  (a)      Subject to the terms and conditions of this
         Agreement, on this day, the Date of Grant, the Company hereby grants to
         the Optionee an option (the "Option") to purchase __________________
         (_______) shares of the Stock of the Company, at an exercise price of
         $_______ per share, subject to any adjustments provided for in this
         Agreement. The Option shall vest and be exercisable according to the
         following schedule, but subject to Sections 3, 4 and 5 below:

                           (i)      On _______________, the Option shall vest
                  and then be exercisable with respect to 25% of the total
                  number of shares subject to the Option;

                           (ii)     On ________________, the Option shall vest
                  and then be exercisable with respect to an additional 25% of
                  the total number of shares subject to the Option;

                           (iii)    On _________________, the Option shall vest
                  and then be exercisable with respect to an additional 25% of
                  the total number of shares subject to the Option;

                           (iv)     On ____________________, the Option shall
                  vest and then be exercisable with respect to the remaining 25%
                  of the total number of shares subject to the Option.

                  To the extent not previously exercised, installments of vested
         Options shall be cumulative and may be exercised in whole or in part.

                  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of the termination
         of the Optionee's employment with Concept, the Company and any of the
         other Affiliates for any reason prior to the Expiration Date, the
         Option shall not continue to vest after such termination of employment
         and any unvested Options shall be forfeited effective as of such date
         of termination.

                  (b)      In addition, notwithstanding any provision contained
         in this Agreement to the contrary, in the event of a Change in Control,
         this Option shall thereupon be fully vested and shall be immediately
         exercisable in full.

         3.       EXPIRATION. The Option evidenced by this Agreement, to the
extent such rights with respect thereto shall not previously have been exercised
or sooner terminated, shall expire and be rendered null and void at 5:00 p.m.,
Houston, Texas time, on __________________ (the "Expiration Date").

         4.       TERMINATION.

                  (a)      Death, Disability and Retirement. Upon the death or
         Disability of the Optionee while in the employ of Concept, the Company
         or any Affiliate, or upon his Retirement, the Optionee, or, if
         applicable, his executors, administrators or any person or

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         persons to whom his Option may be transferred by will or by the laws of
         descent and distribution, shall have the right for one year following
         the date of such death, Disability, or Retirement of the Optionee, but
         in any event, not later than the Expiration Date, to exercise the
         Option to the extent it was vested at the date of such death,
         Disability, or Retirement.

                  (b)      Severance of Employment. Unless expressly provided
         otherwise in this Agreement, Options shall (a) terminate six months
         after severance of employment with Concept, the Company and all
         Affiliates for any reason other than for reasons of death, Retirement,
         or Disability and (b) be exercisable only to the extent such Options
         are exercisable at the time of the Optionee's severance of employment;
         provided, however, that in no event will the Option be exercisable
         after the Expiration Date. Whether authorized leave of absence or
         absence on military or government service shall constitute severance of
         the employment of the Optionee shall be determined by the Committee at
         that time.

         5.       FORFEITURE. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this
Agreement, if any of the following occur, the Optionee shall forfeit all
outstanding Options, including all exercised Options pursuant to which the
Company has not yet delivered a stock certificate. : (i) the conviction of the
Optionee by a court of competent jurisdiction as to which no further appeal can
be taken of a crime involving moral turpitude or a felony; (ii) the proven
commission by the Optionee of a material act of fraud upon the Company or any
Subsidiary, or any customer or supplier thereof; (iii) the willful and proven
misappropriation of any funds or property of the Company or any Subsidiary, or
any customer or supplier thereof; (iv) the willful, continued and unreasonable
failure by the Optionee to perform the material duties assigned to him which is
not cured to the reasonable satisfaction of the Company within 30 days after
written notice of such failure is provided to Optionee by the Board or by a
designated officer of the Company or a Subsidiary; (v) the knowing engagement by
the Optionee in any direct and material conflict of interest with the Company or
any Subsidiary without compliance with the Company's or Subsidiary's conflict of
interest policy, if any, then in effect; or (vi) the knowing engagement by the
Optionee, without the written approval of the Board, in any material activity
which competes with the business of the Company or any Subsidiary or which would
result in a material injury to the business, reputation or goodwill of the
Company or any Subsidiary; or (vii) the material breach by a Consultant of such
Optionee's contract with the Company. The decision of the Committee as to the
cause of the Optionee's discharge, and the damage done to Concept, the Company
or an Affiliate, shall be final. No decision of the Committee, however, shall
affect the finality of the discharge of the Optionee by Concept, the Company or
such Affiliate in any manner.

         6.       CHANGES IN THE COMPANY'S CAPITAL STRUCTURE. The existence of
outstanding Options shall not affect in any way the right or power of the
Company or its stockholders to make or authorize any and all adjustments,
recapitalizations, reorganizations or other changes in the Company's capital
structure or its business, or any merger or consolidation of the Company, or any
issue of bonds, debentures, preferred or prior preference stock ahead of or
affecting the Stock or its rights, or the dissolution or liquidation of the
Company, or any sale or transfer of all or any part of its assets or business,
or any other corporate act or proceeding, whether of a similar character or
otherwise.

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         If the Company shall effect a subdivision or consolidation of shares or
other capital readjustment, the payment of a stock dividend, or other increase
or reduction of the number of shares of the Stock outstanding, without receiving
compensation for it in money, services or property, then the number, class, and
per share price of shares of Stock subject to the Option shall be appropriately
adjusted in such a manner so as to entitle Optionee to receive upon exercise of
the Option, for the same aggregate cash consideration, the equivalent total
number and class of shares Optionee would have received had Optionee exercised
his Option in full immediately prior to the event requiring the adjustment.

         If while the Option remains outstanding and unexercised (i) the Company
shall not be the surviving entity in any merger, consolidation or other
reorganization (or survives only as a subsidiary of an entity other than an
entity that was directly or indirectly wholly-owned by the Company immediately
prior to such merger, consolidation or other reorganization), (ii) the Company
sells, leases or exchanges or agrees to sell, lease or exchange all or
substantially all of its assets to any other person or entity (other than an
entity that is wholly-owned by the Company), (iii) the Company is to be
dissolved, or (iv) the Company is a party to any other corporate transaction (as
defined under section 424(a) of the Code and applicable U.S. Treasury
Regulations) that is not described in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) of this
sentence (each such event is referred to herein as a "Corporate Change"), then
(x) except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or as a result of
the effectuation of one or more of the alternatives described below, there shall
be no acceleration of the time at which the Option then outstanding may be
exercised, and (y) no later than ten (10) days after the approval by the
stockholders of the Company of such Corporate Change, the Board or the
Committee, acting in their sole and absolute discretion without the consent or
approval of Optionee, shall act to effect one or more of the following
alternatives:

                           (i)      accelerate the time at which the Option then
                  outstanding may be exercised so that the Option may be
                  exercised in full for a limited period of time on or before a
                  specified date (before or after such Corporate Change) fixed
                  by the Committee or the Board of Directors, after which
                  specified date the Option then remaining unexercised and all
                  rights of Optionee thereunder shall terminate;

                           (ii)     require the mandatory surrender to the
                  Company by Optionee of the Option (regardless of whether the
                  Option is then exercisable under the provisions of this
                  Agreement) as of a date, before or after such Corporate
                  Change, specified by the Committee or the Board of Directors,
                  in which event the Committee or the Board shall thereupon
                  cancel such Option and the Company shall pay to Optionee an
                  amount of cash per share equal to the excess, if any, of the
                  per share price offered to stockholders of the Company in
                  connection with such Corporate Change over the exercise price
                  under this Option for such shares;

                           (iii)    with respect to Optionee, have some or all
                  of this Option (whether vested or unvested) assumed or have a
                  new option substituted for some or all of this Option (whether
                  vested or unvested) by an entity that is a party to the
                  transaction resulting in such Corporate Change and that is
                  then employing him, or a parent or subsidiary of such entity,
                  provided that (A) such assumption or substitution is on a
                  basis in which the excess of the aggregate fair market value
                  of

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                  the shares subject to such new option immediately after the
                  assumption or substitution over the aggregate exercise price
                  of such shares hereunder is equal to the excess of the
                  aggregate fair market value of all shares subject to the
                  Option immediately before such assumption or substitution over
                  the aggregate exercise price of such shares, and (B) the
                  assumed rights under the existing Option or the substituted
                  rights under such new option, as the case may be, will have
                  the same terms and conditions as the rights under the existing
                  Option assumed or substituted for, as the case may be;

                           (iv)     provide that the number and class of shares
                  of Stock covered by the Option (whether vested or unvested)
                  theretofore granted shall be adjusted so that the Option when
                  exercised shall thereafter cover the number and class of
                  shares of stock or other securities or property (including,
                  without limitation, cash) to which the Optionee would have
                  been entitled pursuant to the terms of the agreement or plan
                  (or both) relating to such Corporate Change if, immediately
                  prior to such Corporate Change, the Optionee had been the
                  holder of record of the number of shares of Stock then covered
                  by the Option; or

                           (v)      make such adjustments to this Option, if
                  any, as the Committee or the Board deems appropriate to
                  reflect such Corporate Change.

         In effecting one or more of alternatives (3), (4) or (5) above, and
except as otherwise may be provided in this Agreement, the Committee or the
Board of Directors, in their sole and absolute discretion and without the
consent or approval of the Optionee, may accelerate the time at which some or
all Options then outstanding may be exercised.

         If changes occur in the outstanding Stock by reason of
recapitalizations, reorganizations, mergers, consolidations, combinations,
exchanges or other changes in capitalization occurring after the Date of Grant
and not otherwise provided for by this Section 6, then the Option and this
Agreement shall be subject to adjustment by the Committee or the Board in their
sole and absolute discretion as to the number and price of shares of stock or
other consideration subject to this Option.

         7.       FORMS OF CONSIDERATION AUTHORIZED.

                  (a)      The exercise of the Option shall be made only by a
         written notice delivered in person, by telecopy or by mail to the
         Secretary of the Company at the Company's principal executive office,
         specifying the number of shares of Stock to be purchased and
         accompanied by payment therefor. The exercise price for any shares of
         Stock to be purchased pursuant to the exercise of the Option shall be
         paid in full upon such exercise by any one or a combination of the
         following: (i) by payment in cash (in U.S. Dollars), certified check,
         bank draft or postal or express money order payable to the order of the
         Company for an amount equal to the exercise price under the Option,
         (ii) by tender to the Company of Mature Shares having a Fair Market
         Value on the date of exercise equal to the exercise price under the
         Option, (iii) by delivery of a properly executed notice of exercise
         together with irrevocable instructions to a broker or dealer providing
         for the assignment to the Company of the proceeds of a sale or loan
         arranged

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         by the Optionee with respect to some or all of the shares being
         acquired upon the exercise of the Option (a "Cashless Exercise"), or
         (iv) by such other terms and conditions as may be approved by the
         Committee to the extent permitted by applicable law.

                  (b)      Limitations on Forms of Consideration.

                           (i)      General Restrictions. The Committee shall
                  not permit an Optionee to pay his exercise price upon the
                  exercise of an Option by having the Company reduce the number
                  of shares of Stock that will be delivered to the Optionee
                  pursuant to the exercise of the Option. In addition, the
                  Committee shall not permit an Optionee to pay his exercise
                  price upon the exercise of an Option by using shares of Stock
                  other than Mature Shares. No fractional shares of Stock (or
                  cash in lieu thereof) shall be issued upon exercise of an
                  Option and the number of shares that may be purchased upon
                  exercise shall be rounded to the nearest number of whole
                  shares.

                           (ii)     Mature Shares. If Mature Shares are used for
                  payment by the Optionee, the aggregate Fair Market Value of
                  the Mature Shares tendered must be equal to or less than the
                  aggregate exercise price of the shares being purchased upon
                  exercise of the Option, and any difference must be paid by
                  cash (in U.S. Dollars), certified check, bank draft or postal
                  or express money order payable to the order of the Company.
                  Delivery of the shares shall be deemed effected for all
                  purposes when a stock transfer agent of the Company shall have
                  deposited the certificates in the United States mail,
                  addressed to the Optionee at the address specified by the
                  Optionee.

                  Whenever this Option is exercised by exchanging Mature Shares
         owned by the Optionee, the Optionee shall deliver to the Company
         certificates registered in the name of the Optionee representing a
         number of shares of Stock legally and beneficially owned by the
         Optionee, free of all liens, claims and encumbrances of every kind,
         accompanied by stock powers duly endorsed in blank by the record holder
         of the shares represented by the certificates (with signature
         guaranteed by a commercial bank or trust company or by a brokerage firm
         having a membership on a registered national stock exchange). The
         delivery of certificates upon the exercise of Options is subject to the
         condition that the person exercising the Option provide the Company
         with the information the Company might reasonably request pertaining to
         exercise, sale or other disposition. If requested by the Secretary of
         the Company, the Optionee shall deliver this Agreement to the Secretary
         of the Company who shall endorse thereon a notation of such exercise
         and return such Agreement to the Optionee.

         8.       NON-EVENTS. The issue by the Company of shares of stock of any
class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, for cash or
property, or for labor or services either upon direct sale or upon the exercise
of rights or warrants to subscribe for them, or upon conversion of shares or
obligations of the Company convertible into shares or other securities, shall
not affect, and no adjustment by reason of such issuance shall be made with
respect to, the number, class, or price of shares of Stock then subject to this
Option.

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         9.       TAX WITHHOLDING.

                  (a)      Concept, the Company or any Affiliate shall be
         entitled to deduct from other compensation payable to Optionee any sums
         required by any applicable law to be withheld with respect to the grant
         or exercise of the Option. In the alternative, Concept or the Company
         may require the Optionee (or other person exercising the Option) to pay
         the sum directly to the employer. If the Optionee is required to pay
         the sum directly, payment in cash or by check of such sums for taxes
         shall be delivered within ten days after the date of grant or exercise,
         as the case may be. In satisfaction of the payment of such sum to the
         Company or Affiliate, the Optionee may make a written election, which
         may be accepted or rejected in the discretion of the Chief Financial
         Officer of the Company, to have withheld a portion of the shares of
         Stock issuable to him or her upon exercise of the Option having an
         aggregate Fair Market Value, on the date of exercise, equal to or less
         than the amount required to be withheld, provided that the Fair Market
         Value of the shares held back shall not exceed the Company's or
         Affiliate's minimum statutory withholding tax obligations.

                  (b)      The Company and its Affiliates shall have no
         obligation upon exercise of the Option to issue any shares of Stock
         until the Company has received payment sufficient to cover all sums due
         with respect to that exercise. The Company and its Affiliates shall not
         be obligated to advise Optionee of the existence of the tax or the
         amount which the employer will be required to withhold.

         10.      REQUIREMENTS OF LAW. The Company shall not be required to sell
or issue any Stock under the Option if issuing that Stock would constitute or
result in a violation by the Optionee or the Company of any provision of any
law, statute, or regulation of any governmental authority. Specifically, in
connection with any applicable statute or regulation relating to the
registration of securities, upon exercise of the Option, the Company shall not
be required to issue any Stock unless the Committee has received evidence
satisfactory to it to the effect that the holder of the Option will not transfer
the Stock except in accordance with applicable law, including receipt of an
opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Company to the effect that any proposed
transfer complies with applicable law. The determination by the Committee on
this matter shall be final, binding and conclusive. The Company may, but shall
in no event be obligated to, register any Stock issuable upon exercise of the
Option pursuant to applicable securities laws of any country or any political
subdivision. In the event the Stock issuable on exercise of the Option is not
registered under applicable U.S. and foreign securities law, the Company may (i)
require as a condition to the issuance of the shares of Stock hereunder that
Optionee make such representations as may be required by law in order for the
shares to be issued and sold to Optionee in compliance with an applicable
exemption from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
applicable state, foreign and local law, and (ii) imprint on the certificate
evidencing the Stock the following legend or any other legend that counsel for
the Company considers necessary or advisable to comply with applicable law:

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                  THE SHARES OF STOCK REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT
         BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNDER THE
         SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED EXCEPT
         UPON SUCH REGISTRATION OR UPON RECEIPT BY THE CORPORATION OF AN OPINION
         OF COUNSEL SATISFACTORY TO THE CORPORATION, IN FORM AND SUBSTANCE
         SATISFACTORY TO THE CORPORATION, THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED FOR
         SUCH SALE OR TRANSFER.

         11.      TRANSFERABILITY. The Option granted to the Optionee under this
Agreement shall not be transferable or assignable by the Optionee other than by
will or the laws of descent and distribution, and shall be exercisable during
the Optionee's lifetime only by him.

         12.      AMENDMENT. This Agreement may not be changed or terminated
orally but only by an agreement in writing signed by the party against whom
enforcement of any such change or termination is sought.

         13.      NO OBLIGATION TO RETAIN SERVICES. Neither Concept, the Company
nor any Affiliate thereof shall be deemed by the grant of this Option to be
required to retain the services of the Optionee for any period.

         14.      STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS. The Optionee shall not have any rights as
a stockholder with respect to any shares of Stock covered by the Option until
the date of the issuance of the stock certificate or certificates to him for
such shares following his exercise of this Option pursuant to the terms and
conditions hereof and his payment for the shares. No adjustment shall be made
for dividends or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date
such certificate or certificates are issued.

         15.      INTERPRETATION. In the event of any difference of opinion
concerning the meaning or effect of this Agreement, such difference shall be
resolved by the Committee.

         16.      GOVERNING LAW. The validity, construction and performance of
this agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Texas. Any
invalidity of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity of
any other provision.

         17.      NOTICES. All offers, notices, demands, requests, acceptances
or other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to
have been duly made or given if mailed by registered or certified mail, return
receipt requested. Any such notice mailed to the Company shall be addressed to
its principal executive offices, and any notice mailed to the Optionee shall be
addressed to the Optionee's residence address as it appears on the books and
records of the Company, or to such other address as either party may hereafter
designate in writing to the other.

         18.      SUCCESSORS. This Agreement shall, except as herein stated to
the contrary, inure to the benefit of and bind the legal representatives, heirs,
successors and assigns of the parties hereto.

         19.      NONQUALIFIED OPTION. The Option evidenced by this Agreement is
a nonqualified stock option which is not intended to be governed by Section 422
of the Code.

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         20.      GENDER. If the context requires, words of one gender when used
in this Agreement shall include the others, and words used in the singular or
plural shall include the other.

         21.      HEADINGS. Headings of Sections are included for convenience of
reference only and do not constitute part of this Agreement and shall not be
used in construing the terms of this Agreement.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered
to be effective as of the Date of Grant.

                                       INPUT/OUTPUT, INC.

                                       By: _____________________________________
                                       Name:
                                       Title:

                                       OPTIONEE

                                       _________________________________________
                                       Printed Name: Ian Williamson

                                      -11-<PAGE>

                                                                  EXHIBIT 10.8.1

                        AMENDMENT A TO LICENSE AGREEMENT

This amendment agreement (the "Amendment A") is entered into by the parties to
the existing license agreement effective November 9, 2002 (the "Prior
Agreement") between The Regents of the University of California, Department of
Energy contract-operators of the Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720, ("Berkeley Lab"), and Nanosys,
Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Licensee") having its principal place of business
at 2625 Hanover St., Palo Alto, CA 94304.

For good and valuable consideration, receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby
acknowledged, the Berkeley Lab and Licensee agree as follows:

I.       BACKGROUND

The Berkeley Lab and Licensee are parties to the Prior Agreement (Berkeley Lab
reference L-03-1364) relating generally to certain inventions characterized as
nanocrystals and related technology.

The Berkeley Lab and Licensee would like to amend the Prior Agreement by way of
this Amendment A to include license rights to certain new inventions made in the
course of research at Berkeley Lab by Dr. Paul Alivasatos and colleagues under
Berkeley Lab's contract with the United States Department of Energy ("DOE"),
relating generally to photovoltaic applications of nanocrystals and related
technology.

II.      AMENDMENT FEE

Licensee shall pay to the Berkeley Lab an Amendment Fee in the amount of [***
Redacted], which accrues upon execution of this Amendment, with [*** Redacted]
being payable within 30 days of the execution of this Amendment, and the
remaining [*** Redacted] being payable within 12 months of the execution
date of this Amendment.

III.     AMENDMENTS TO THE PRIOR AGREEMENT

A.       Paragraph 5.1 of the Prior Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety
         and replaced with the following amended paragraph 5.1:

         5.1      Following an initial public offering or series of public
                  offerings of Licensee securities which raises in the aggregate
                  at least $5 million or sale of all or substantially all of the
                  assets or equity of Licensee in a

*** Confidential treatment requested pursuant to a request for confidential
treatment filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Omitted portions
have been filed separately with the Commission.
<PAGE>

                  transaction(s) worth at least $5 million ("Offering"),
                  Licensee shall pay to Berkeley Lab the equivalent of the price
                  at the Offering of 70,000 shares of Licensee's common stock.
                  Such payments shall be made in installments with one-third
                  payable 9 months from the Offering, one-third payable 18
                  months from the Offering and one-third payable 26 months from
                  the Offering. Such payments shall include interest from the
                  date of the Offering to the date such payment is made.
                  Interest shall be compounded on the date such payment is made,
                  and shall be charged at the prime lending rate as published in
                  the Wall Street Journal on the date such payment is made.
                  Licensee shall adjust the 70,000 shares to take into account
                  any stock splits or reverse stock splits since the Effective
                  Date.

B.       Paragraph 7.4 of the Prior Agreement is hereby amended to insert after
paragraph 7.4.l0. the following additional paragraphs:

         7.4.11   by 24 months from the Effective Date, have expended at
                  least [*** Redacted] in the aggregate for direct costs in
                  research and development for technology directly related to
                  photovoltaic applications that use Licensed Patents;

         7.4.12   by 24 months from the Effective Date, provide Berkeley Lab
                  with a commercialization plan for nanocomposite photovoltaic
                  devices based upon the Licensed Patents;

         7.4.13   by 48 months from the Effective Date, produce in Licensee's
                  facility, a working prototype photovoltaic device with at
                  least [*** Redacted];

         7.4.14   by 60 months from the Effective Date, make commercial sales of
                  Licensed Products that are photovoltaic devices

C.       Paragraph 9.1 of the Prior Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety
         and replaced with the following amended paragraph 9.1:

         9.1      Licensee shall keep books and records accurately showing all
                  work performed in satisfaction of Article 7 and all Licensed
                  Products manufactured, used, sold or imported under the terms
                  of this Agreement, including without limitation books and
                  records related to licenses for Third Party Patents under
                  paragraph 6.4. Licensee shall preserve those

*** Confidential treatment requested pursuant to a request for confidential
treatment filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Omitted portions
have been filed separately with the Commission.

                                       2

<PAGE>

                  books and records for at least five years from the date of the
                  work performed or the royalty payment to which they pertain
                  and shall open them to inspection by representatives or agents
                  of Berkeley Lab at reasonable times. Licensee shall render all
                  assistance reasonably requested by Berkeley Lab for the
                  purposes of carrying out such inspections and examination of
                  Licensee's royalty payments and performance under Article 7.

D.       Exhibit 1 and Exhibit 2 of the Prior Agreement are hereby deleted in
         their entirety and replaced with the attached amended Exhibit 1 and
         Exhibit 2.

IV.      NO OTHER AMENDMENTS

Unless expressly amended herein or by subsequent amendments agreed to by the
parties in a signed written amendment, all other terms of the Prior Agreement,
including but not limited to terms related to interpretation and enforcement of
the Prior Agreement, shall remain in full force and effect as originally agreed
to in the Prior Agreement, and shall apply equally to the terms of this
Amendment A.

Berkeley Lab and Licensee execute this Agreement in duplicate originals through
their duly authorized respective officers in one or more counterparts, that
taken together, are but one instrument.

THE RECENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY            NANOSYS, INC.
OF CALIFORNIA, THROUGH THE
ERNEST ORLANDO LAWRENCE
BERKELEY NATIONAL LABORATORY

By /s/ Piermaria Oddone                  By  /s/ Lawrence Bock
   -------------------------------           --------------------------
        (Signature)                                (Signature)

By   Piermaria Oddone                    By      Lawrence Bock

Title  Deputy Laboratory Director        Title    President

Date  3/18/03                            Date    3/20/03

      Approved as to form
      /s/ Glenn R. Woods
      ---------------------
      GLENN R. WOODS
      LAWRENCE BERKELEY NATIONAL LABORATORY

                                        3
<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT 1

                          LICENSED (EXCLUSIVE) PATENTS

BERKELEY LAB
CASE NUMBER                      PATENT APPLICATION/PATENT

IB-1810           The following Provisional U.S. Patent Applications by A. Paul
                  Alivisatos, Wendy U. Huynh, and Janke J. Dittmer:

                  (1) 60/365,401, filed March 18, 2002, entitled Solar Cells,
                  Photovoltaic Devices and Photodectectors Based on Inorganic
                  Nanorods and Other 3D Objects Based on Nanorods;

                  (2) 60/381,660, filed May 17, 2002, entitled, Hybrid
                  Nanorod-Polymer Solar Cells;

                  (3) 60/381,667, filed May 17, 2002, entitled, Hybrid
                  Nanorod-Polymer Solar Cells

IB-1783           US Patent Application Serial Number 10/280,135, filed
                  10/23/02, entitled, Semiconductor Liquid Crystal Composition
                  and Methods for Making Same, by A. Paul Alivisatos and
                  Liang-shi Li

IB-1783PCT        Patent Application filed under Chapter I of the Patent
                  Cooperation Treaty, Serial Number PCT/US02/33970, filed
                  10/23/02, entitled, Quantum Rod Liquid Crystals, by A. Paul
                  Alivisatos and Liang-shi Li

IB-1576           US Patent Application Serial Number 09/702,219, filed
                  10/30/00, entitled, Process for Making Surfactant-capped
                  Nanocrystals, by A. Paul Alivisatos and Joerg Rockenberger

IB-1576A          US Patent Application Serial Number 09/721,126, filed
                  11/22/00, entitled, A Process for Making Surfactant Capped
                  Nanocrystals and Products Produced by the Process, by A. Paul
                  Alivisatos and Joerg Rockenberger

IB-1402           [*** Redacted]

*** Confidential treatment requested pursuant to a request for confidential
treatment filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Omitted portions
have been filed separately with the Commission.

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT 2

                        LICENSED (FOU EXCLUSIVE) PATENTS

BERKELEY LAB                         PATENT APPLICATION/PATENT
CASE NUMBER

IB-1773           U.S. patent application, Serial Number 10/301,510, filed
                  11/22/02, entitled Shaped Nanocrystal Particles and Methods
                  for Making the Same, by A. Paul Alivisatos, Erik Scher, and
                  Liberato Manna

IB-1773PCT        Patent Application filed under Chapter I of the Patent
                  Cooperation Treaty, Serial Number pending, filed 11/22/02,
                  entitled, Shaped Nanocrystal Particles and Methods for Making
                  the Same, by A. Paul Alivisatos, Erik Scher, and Liberato
                  Manna

IB-1527A          US Patent Number 6,225,198, issued May 1, 2001, entitled
                  Process for Forming Shaped Group II-VI Semiconductor
                  Nanocrystals, and Product Formed Using Process, by A. Paul
                  Alivisatos, Xiaogang Peng, and Liberato Manna

IB-1527B          US Patent Number 6,306,736, issued October 23, 2001, entitled
                  Process for Forming Shaped Group III-V Semiconductor
                  Nanocrystals, and Product Formed Using Process, by A. Paul
                  Alivisatos, Xiaogang Peng, and Liberato Manna

IB-1330           US Patent Number 5,990,479, issued November 23, 1999, entitled
                  Organoluminescent Semiconductor Nanocrystal Probes for
                  Biological Applications and Process for Making and Using Such
                  Probes, by Shimon Weiss, Marcel Bruchez, Jr., and A. Paul
                  Alivisatos

IB-1330JP         Japanese Patent Application Number 11-80598, filed 3/24/99,
                  entitled, Semiconductor Nanocrystal Probes for Biological
                  Applications and Process for Making and Using Such Probes, by
                  Shimon Weiss, Marcel Bruchez, Jr., and A. Paul Alivisatos

IB-1330A          US Patent Number 6,207,392, issued March 27, 2001, entitled
                  Semiconductor Nanocrystal Probes for Biological Applications
                  and Process for Making and Using Such Probes, by Shimon Weiss,
                  Marcel Bruchez, Jr., and A. Paul Alivisatos

IB-1330A-EPO      European Patent Organization Application number 00915944.3,
                  filed 2/28/00, entitled Semiconductor Nanocrystal Probes for
                  Biological Applications and Process for Making and Using Such
                  Probes, by Shimon Weiss, Marcel Bruchez, Jr., and A. Paul
                  Alivisatos

IB-1330A-CA       Canadian Patent Application Number 2366303, filed 8/10/01,
                  entitled Semiconductor Nanocrystal Probes for Biological
                  Applications and Process for Making and Using Such Probes, by
                  Shimon Weiss, Marcel Bruchez, Jr., and A. Paul Alivisatos

IB-1330A-JP       Japanese Patent Application Number 2000-605212, entitled
                  Semiconductor Nanocrystal Probes for Biological Applications
                  and Process for Making and Using Such Probes, by Shimon Weiss,
                  Marcel Bruchez, Jr., and A. Paul Alivisatos

IB-1330B          US Patent Number 6,423,551 issued July 23, 2002, entitled
                  Organo luminescent Semiconductor Nanocrystal Probes for
                  Biological Applications and Process for Making and Using Such
                  Probes, by Shimon Weiss, Marcel Bruchez, Jr., and A. Paul
                  Alivisatos

IB-1330C          US Patent Application Serial Number 09/781,621, filed
                  2/12/2001, entitled Semiconductor Nanocrystal Probes for
                  Biological Applications and Process for Making and Using Such
                  Probes, by Shimon Weiss, Marcel Bruchez, Jr., and A. Paul
                  Alivisatos

B-1330D           US Patent Application Serial Number 09/865,130, filed
                  5/24/2001, entitled Organo luminescent Semiconductor
                  Nanocrystal Probes for Biological Applications and Process for
                  Making and Using Such Probes, by Shimon Weiss, Marcel Bruchez,
                  Jr., and A. Paul Alivisatos

IB-1330E          US Patent Application Serial Number 10/155,918, filed
                  5/24/2002, entitled Organo luminescent Semiconductor
                  Nanocrystal Probes for Biological Applications and Process for
                  Making and Using Such Probes, by Shimon Weiss, Marcel Bruchez,
                  Jr., and A. Paul Alivisatos

IB-I330F          US Patent Application Seri al Number 10/155,759, filed
                  5/24/2002, entitled Semiconductor Nanocrystal Probes for
                  Biological Applications and Process for Making and Using Such
                  Probes, by Shimon Weiss, Marcel Bruchez, Jr., and A. Paul
                  Alivisatos

CIB-1030          US Patent Number 5,537,000, issued July 16, 1996, entitled
                  Electroluminescent Devices Formed Using Semiconductor
                  Nanocrystals as an Electron Transport Media and Method of
                  Making Such Electroluminescent Devices, by A. Paul Alivisatos
                  and Vicki L. Colvin

IB-866A           US Patent Number 5,751,018, issued May 12, 1998, entitled
                  Semiconductor Nanocrystals Covalently Bound to Solid Inorganic
                  Surfaces Using Self-Assembled Monolayers, by A. Paul
                  Alivisatos and Vicki L. Colvin

IB-865            US Patent Number 5,262,357, issued November 16, 1993, entitled
                  Low Temperature Thin Films Formed Via Nanocrystal Precursors,
                  by A. Paul Alivisatos and Avery N. Goldstein

IB-864A           US Patent Number 5,505,928, issued April 9, 1996, entitled
                  Preparation Of III-V Semiconductor Nanocrystals, by A. Paul
                  Alivisatos and Michael A. Olshavsky

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