The DVD Format/Logo Licensing Corporation (DVD FLLC) announced that it will start business from today as the official licensor for rights to use DVD formats and logos. The new company, a joint venture of the ten companies that originated the DVD formats, will grant manufacturers around the world rights to use DVD technical information and know-how for developing and manufacturing products, and to display DVD logos on those products, and will proactively promote the transition to DVD in video, audio and data storage.

The new company is a joint venture of Hitachi, Ltd., Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V., Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Pioneer Corporation, Sony Corporation, THOMSON multimedia S.A., Time Warner, Inc., Toshiba Corporation and Victor Company of Japan, Ltd.

Since its commercialization in 1996, DVD has enjoyed an unprecedented impact in all the markets in which it has been launched. Following the successful penetration of DVD-Video players, DVD-ROM drives quickly won market share, and key applications in entertainment and computing are now supported by large and fast growing libraries of DVD titles. The launch of further DVD-related products is expected to spur a new round of growth and take market volumes to a new level.

The license is a requirement for manufacturers who want to produce players, drives, decoders, discs and other related products that meet the various DVD standards, and to display DVD logos on those products. The ten companies agreed to establish the licensing corporation to facilitate a simplified licensing process that supports market expansion. DVD FLLC will take over licensing from Toshiba Corporation, which has served as the interim DVD format and logo licensing agent since 1997.