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JANUARY 25, 2008--The DVD6C Licensing Group (DVD6C) consisting of nine developers of DVD technology and formats
—Hitachi, Ltd., Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (Panasonic), Mitsubishi Electric Corporation,
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Sharp Corporation, Toshiba Corporation,
Victor Company of Japan, Ltd. (JVC) and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Inc. —
today announced that it has revised its worldwide patent licensing program beginning on and after January 1, 2008,
including offering a new license agreement (the "New DVD6C License"), which offers reduced royalty rates on
certain products and additional licensing options.
Key changes to the new licensing program include the following:
Reduction of royalty rates for DVD Read-Only Discs (i.e., the DVD-Video Disc, DVD-Audio Disc and DVD-ROM Disc)
from US$0.045/Disc to US$0.040/Disc for sales of DVD Read-Only Discs beginning on or after the Effective Date
of the New DVD6C License.
The addition of +R Discs and +RW Discs as new categories of licensed DVD Products. The royalty rates for +R Discs
shall be the same as the current royalty rates for DVD-R Discs, and the royalty rates for +RW Discs shall be the
same as the current royalty rates for DVD-RW Discs.
Inclusion of Time Limited DVD Discs in the DVD-ROM Disc, DVD-Video Disc and DVD-Audio Disc categories of licensed
DVD Products.
Interested parties will remain free to negotiate individual license agreements with DVD6C’s member companies,
rather than taking out a single portfolio license or license for a category of products. The member companies have
committed to provide such licenses under fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms and conditions.
For the convenience of current and prospective licensees, the royalty rates to be offered under the New DVD6C License
are shown below:
| Category |
Royalty |
| DVD-Video Player |
The greater of
(i) 4% of the net selling price or
(ii) US$4.00 per player or,
US$3.00 per player on or after the effective
date of the New DVD6C License
US$8.00 at maximum on or after January 1, 2003
|
| DVD-Audio Player |
The greater of
(i) 4% of the net selling price or
(ii) US$4.00 per player or,
US$3.00 per player on or after the effective date of the New DVD6C License
US$8.00 at maximum on or after January 1, 2003
|
| DVD-ROM Drive |
The greater of
(i) 4% of the net selling price or
(ii) US$4.00 per drive or,
US$3.00 per drive on or after the effective date of the New DVD6C License
US$8.00 at maximum on or after January 1, 2003
|
| DVD-ROM Disc |
US$0.075 per disc;
US$0.065 per disc on or after January 1, 2002;
US$0.05 per disc on or after January 1, 2004;
US$0.040 per disc on or after the effective date of the New DVD6C License
|
| DVD-Video Disc |
US$0.075 per disc;
US$0.065 per disc on or after January 1, 2002;
US$0.05 per disc on or after January 1, 2004;
US$0.040 per disc on or after the effective date of the New DVD6C License
|
| DVD-Audio Disc |
US$0.075 per disc;
US$0.05 per disc on or after January 1, 2004;
US$0.040 per disc on or after the effective date of the New DVD6C License
|
| DVD Decoder |
4% of the net selling price or US$1.00 per decoder,
whichever is greater
|
| DVD Video Recorder |
4% of the net selling price or US$6.00 per recorder,
whichever is greater
|
| DVD (Recordable Disc) Drive |
4% of the net selling price or US$6.00 per drive,
whichever is greater
|
| DVD Encoder |
4% of the net selling price or US$1.50 per encoder,
whichever is greater
|
| DVD-R Disc |
The greater of
(i) 4% of the net selling price or
(ii) US$0.075 per disc;
US$0.045 per disc on or after January 1, 2006
|
| DVD-RW Disc |
The greater of
(i) 4% of the net selling price or
(ii) US$0.075 per disc or,
US$0.065 per disc on or after the effective date of the New DVD6C License
|
| DVD-RAM Disc |
The greater of
(i) 4% of the net selling price or
(ii) US$0.075 per disc or,
US$0.065 per disc on or after the effective date of the New DVD6C License
|
| Recordable Disc Case |
4% of the net selling price or US¢0.5 per case,
whichever is greater
|
| +R Disc |
The greater of
(i) 4% of the net selling price or
(ii) US$0.075 per disc, or US$0.045 per disc on or after January 1, 2006
|
| +RW Disc |
The greater of
(i) 4% of the net selling price or
(ii) US$0.075 per disc or, US$0.065 per disc on or after the effective date of the New DVD6C License
|
For further information regarding the DVD6C licensing program, please visit the 6C web site
(www.dvd6cla.com) or contact one of the following regional agents:
Japan:
Toshihiro Shinohara
Vice President & General Manager
Licensing
Toshiba DVD License Services, Inc.
5th Floor, Sumitomo-Hamamatsucho Bldg.
18-16, Hamamatsucho 1-chome, Minato-ku
Tokyo 105-0013, Japan
Phone: +81-3-5777-3286
Fax: +81-3-5401-2503
E-mail: toshihiro.shinohara@toshiba-tdls.co.jp
Europe and Africa:
Masahiro Ogura
Vice President & General Manager
Toshiba of Europe Limited
Santander House
6th Floor, 100 Ludgate Hill,
London, EC4M 7RE
United Kingdom
Phone: +44(0)20 7332 9862
Fax: +44(0)20 7332 9889
E-mail: masahiro.ogura@toshiba.co.jp
Asia (excluding Japan), Oceania and the Middle East :
Takao Kato
Department Manager
DVD Licensing Center
Hitachi Ltd.
Shin-Otemachi Bldg. 2-1,
Otemachi 2-chome, Chiyoda-ku,
Tokyo, 100-0004, Japan
Phone: +81-3-4232-5052
Fax: +81-3-4232-5091
E-Mail: dli-inquiry@itg.hitachi.co.jp
The Americas :
Tatsuya Ii
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
Exclusive Regional Agent for DVD6C Licensing Agency
c/o Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
201 Redwood Shores Parkway
Redwood Shores, California 94065, USA
Phone: 650-802-3146
Fax: 650-802-3100
E-Mail: dvd6c@gg.jp.panasonic.com
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