Blu-ray | 3:47 March 08, 2010 | Print this story

Top manufacturers form new Blu-ray patent group

Mitsubishi, Thomson Licensing, Toshiba and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment have formed a new worldwide Blu-ray patent joint licensing programme for manufacturers of Blu-ray products.

Known as the BD4C Licensing Group, it will represent owners of Blu-ray and DVD patents essential for BD decoders, encoders, players, read-only discs, recordable discs, drives, BD/DVD hybrid discs and recorders including BD Products that incorporate DVD functionality.

BD4C has been set up to offer a one-stop shop for patents controlled by its members that “comply with the specifications for the BD formats promulgated by the Blu-ray Disc Association”.

Toshiba will act as the licensor for the BD4C Licensing Group. Royalties under the terms of the portfolio license include Blu-ray Disc at 4 cents; BD/DVD hybrid at 8 cents and BD player at $4.50.