DVD6C Announces CES Compliance Initiatives

DVD6C Announces CES Compliance Initiatives

LAS VEGAS, Dec. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2005 International CES (January 6-9, 2005) is scheduled to attract 130,000 attendees to see some 2,400 exhibitors from 110 countries selling a wide range of electronic and entertainment media. For the DVD6C Licensing Agency (DVD6C), this annual event will also serve as a reminder to exhibitors and visitors at CES that all manufacturers, distributors or retailers of products using certain DVD formats are required to obtain proper licenses from patent holders.

The seven members of the DVD6C Group -- Hitachi Ltd., IBM Corporation, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Time Warner Inc., Toshiba Corporation and Victor Company of Japan, Ltd. (JVC) -- collectively own hundreds of essential patents for the DVD-ROM, DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, DVD-R, DVD-RW and DVD-RAM formats, which are used in DVD-ROM drives, DVD-Video players/recorders, DVD encoders/decoders, DVD discs and other products. The DVD6C Group offers on reasonable, non-discriminatory terms, a portfolio license under these essential patents.

According to Masahisa Saito, DVD6C exclusive regional licensing agent for the Americas, "All companies who utilize these patented technologies, including in the manufacture of DVD players, recorders, drives, encoders/decoders and discs, must be licensed. DVD6C's joint licensing program offers an efficient means to be licensed in order to avoid patent infringement, by offering a package of essential patents owned by the seven members of the DVD6C Group."

While Saito acknowledges that most DVD equipment manufacturers and disc replicators here in the Americas are licensed, some importers of DVD products manufactured abroad need continual reminding of patent and intellectual property rights laws here in the U.S. To help CES exhibitors become compliant before the Show, DVD6C has agreed to help with an informational campaign, including assistance by its staff and use of its own website www.dvd6cla.com, which is updated daily with licensing information and background on various DVD technologies and patents. The seven members of DVD6C hold over 1100 relevant DVD patents on a global basis that are profiled on the site.

For those unfamiliar with United States patent law, namely, 35 U.S.C. section 271(a) provides as follows: "Except as otherwise provided in this title, whoever without authority makes, uses, offers to sell, or sells any patented invention, within the United States, or imports into the United States any patented invention during the terms of the patent therefore, infringes the patent." Further, section 281 states that "(a) patentee shall have remedy by civil action for infringement of his patent."

"During the last four years DVD6C has maintained regular communication with all levels of DVD manufacturing and distribution," Saito stated, "through trade shows such as CES and others, and through a continuous 'Stay Legal' ad campaign with global reach, directories, Website and direct communications. All of this has been to ensure that there be no misunderstanding about patent rights and rules."

CES has launched its own rules to protect against patent, trademark and intellectual property infringement. The standard Exhibitor Contract states that "Exhibitors are responsible for payment of fees, royalties or fines for use of work that is protected by copyright, patent or trademark," and CES has the power to enforce its rules against Exhibitors that do not comply, including shutting down booths (see paragraphs 10, 14, 37 and 39). During the show, DVD6C representatives will continue their own efforts to ensure products offered are properly licensed and in compliance.

Interested parties may view the DVD6C Website at www.dvd6cla.com for the latest information. In addition to the portfolio license referenced above, parties may seek individual licenses under the DVD6C patents from each of the DVD6C Group members on fair, reasonable and nondiscriminatory terms.

Americas Licensing is managed by Mr. Masahisa Saito, Tel: 650.802.3146, Fax: 650.802.3100, E-mail: saitom@us.panasonic.com

Asia Licensing is managed by Mr. Joji Ozaki, Tel: 81.45.866.5815, Fax: 81.45.866.5906, E-mail: ozakijo@itg.hitachi.co.jp

Other regional contact information, including Europe and Japan, can be found at, www.dvd6cla.com

About DVD6C Licensing Agency

The DVD6C Licensing Agency was formed by six of the leading developers of DVD technology in June 1999. These six companies were also original members of the 10 member DVD Consortium (now known as the DVD Forum). These six original member companies of the DVD6C Licensing Agency include Hitachi, Ltd., Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Time Warner Inc., Toshiba Corporation, and Victor Company of Japan, Ltd. Under the auspices of the DVD6C Licensing Agency, these six companies have introduced a joint patent licensing program for DVD-Video and DVD-ROM to help facilitate the worldwide introduction of DVD technology. This program offers one non-exclusive license for a portfolio of essential DVD-Video and DVD-ROM patents, for products in conformity with the DVD Standard. It offers the maximum of benefits, convenience and efficiency, against the payment of reasonable royalties. In June 2002, IBM Corporation has joined with the six original member companies. The essential patents of IBM are part of the license available from the DVD6C Licensing Agency. In addition to the patent licensing program for DVD-Video and DVD-ROM, a patent license program for recordable DVDs, such as DVD-R, -RW, -RAM was started from September last year. Toshiba administers the program in the name of the seven companies, with the help of Matsushita and Hitachi. Matsushita covers the area of the Americas (North, Central and South).


Source: DVD6C Licensing Agency

CONTACT: Masahisa Saito of DVD6C, +1-650-802-3146, or cell,
+1-650-868-1715; or John van Barneveld, +1-562-694-1923, or cell,
+1-562-762-6381, johnvb@pc-w.com, for CES

Web site: http://www.dvd6cla.com/


-------
Profile: intent