The DVD6C Licensing Group consisting of nine leading developers of DVD technology and formats have announced that it has revised its worldwide patent licensing program including offering a new license agreement (the "New DVD6C License"), which offers reduced royalty rates on certain products and additional licensing options.
DVD6C consists of Hitachi, Matsushita (Panasonic), Mitsubishi, Samsung, Sanyo, Sharp, Toshiba, JVC and Warner Bros.
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.
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