Licensing

Introduction

Welcome to the DVD-Video/ROM disc joint licensing program. Please use the navigation on the right to find all the relevant information related to this program.

If you are a buyer of DVD-Video discs and want to ensure that you are buying licensed products, please visit our special buyer page.
 

DVD-Video / ROM Disc Patent License

We offer patent licenses to manufacturers of DVD discs. A joint license provides DVD disc manufacturers with all the required Philips, Sony, Pioneer and LGE patents in a package. Please note that separate licenses are also offered by Sony, Pioneer and LGE under their respective patents. For information on the conditions of these separate licenses, please contact these other parties directly.

Philips offers a Philips-only license that covers the Philips patents for DVD-Video/ROM discs. For full details, click DVD Video/ROM Disc (Philips only)

For the dedicated Sony License Program see : http://www.sony.net/license/

 

FAQ

Are you a buyer?
Please visit our special buyer page.

What is the SID code?

The CD replication industry developed a code system (SID code also known as IFPI code) to be employed by CD, DVD & SA-CD manufacturing plants to identify all discs mastered and/or replicated in their plant. Each CD-, DVD- and SA-CD manufacturing facility around the world has their own unique code and this enables the music industry to trace the origin of CDs.

The Source IDentification Code (SID Code) provides an optical disc production facility with the means to identify:
- all discs mastered and/or replicated in its plant;

- and the individual Laser Beam Recorder (LBR) signal processor or mould that produced a particular stamper or disc.

Each production facility that wishes to implement the use of the SID Code is issued with its own unique code(s). The SID Code was developed for use with the CD format, but is now being used for both CD and High Density disc formats, including DVD and Super Audio CD.

The SID Code was developed jointly by rights owners and the optical disc industry, primarily as an anti-piracy tool. However, since its introduction in 1994, the SID Code has proved a major benefit to optical disc producers. Its use both as a quality control tool and as a marketing tool has ensured that the SID Code, which was introduced on a purely voluntary basis, has now been implemented in over 80% of the world’s optical disc plants, representing over 90% of worldwide optical disc manufacturing capacity.

Link to IFPI

Document: SID code implementation guide

Document: Application form SID code

Document: Good Business Practices for optical disc mastering & manufacturing plants

Who owns and licenses the DVD Video and the DVD-ROM logo?

The DVD Format/Logo Licensing Corporation (DVD FLLC) owns the DVD specifications and associated DVD logos.

The DVD format and Logo License, which defines the conditions under which the DVD specifications (excluding DVD+RW and DVD+R) and associated DVD logos can be used is handled by the DVD Format/Logo Licensing Corporation (DVD FLLC). Patent licenses are explicitly excluded from this license. Specifications and logo use for the DVD+RW and DVD+R formats are handled by Philips.

For more information on DVD specification and logo use (excluding DVD+RW and DVD+R) contact: DVD FLLC, Daimon Urbanist Bldg. 6F, 2-3-6 Shibadaimon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0012, Japan; Tel: +81-3-5777-2883; Fax: +81-3-5777-2884

For more information on DVD+RW and DVD+R specification and logo use:See other sections on this website for details or Contact Us

 

What other parties or companies have a licensing program for DVD?

This question is asked frequently and below we give an overview, after stating that this is by no means a comprehensive overview.

 

6C DVD player and disc licensing

The licensing program of originally 6 companies (hence 6C) which has grown to 9 companies: Hitachi, Ltd., Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (Panasonic), Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Sharp Corporation, Toshiba Corporation, Victor Company of Japan, Ltd. (JVC) and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Inc. and since November 2006 Samsung Electronics Co.

For information visit: www.dvd6cla.com or contact: TOSHIBA CORPORATION, DVD Business Promotion and Support, 1-1, Shibaura 1-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-01, JAPAN, Fax +81-3-5444-9430, Tel +81-3-3457-2473 or one of the other companies concerned.

 

Discovision DVD player and disc licensing

DISCOVISION ASSOCIATES have yet to announce their DVD-ROM and DVD-Video patent license programs. Their website: www.discovision.com

 

Thomson (or 1C) DVD player and disc Licensing

THOMSON MULTIMEDIA has announced its DVD-ROM and DVD-Video patent license programs. The contact: Alfred Chaouat, Vice President Intellectual Property and Licensing, 46 Quai Alphonse Le Gallo 92648 Boulogne Cedex FRANCE Fax +33-1-4186-5637 Tel +33-1-4186-5284 e-mail alfred.chaouat@thomson.net
 

Macrovision DVD analog copy protection licensing

A DVD analog copy protection (encoder) system license from MACROVISION CORPORATION (USA). Product certification is mandatory (applicable for DVD player and DVD disc manufacturers only, but not restricted to these categories). Their website: www.macrovision.com

 

DVD Content Scrambling (CSS) Licensing

DVD Content Scrambling System (CSS) applicable for DVD player and DVD disc manufacturers but not restricted to these categories. Their website: www.dvdcca.com

 

MPEG-LA MPEG-2 Video licensing

A joint license program of a number of companies, including PHILIPS, holding essential MPEG-2 Video patents has been negotiated successfully in the MPEG Intellectual Property Rights Working Group. The MPEG Licensing Agency MPEG-2 is appointed to license the essential patents. (applicable for DVD player and DVD disc manufacturers but not restricted to these categories) Their website: www.mpegla.com

 

Dolby Digital (AC-3) licensing

A Dolby Digital (AC-3) license from Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation (USA). Product certification is mandatory (optionally for DVD player manufacturers, but not restricted to this category). Their website: www.dolby.com/professional/licensing_trademark/basics.html

note: Other companies, including Philips, also have patents related to the AC-3 technology. See the DVD Player and DVD Disc programs

 

Does Philips provide Formatters for mastering systems?

Yes. For info go to our Mastering/Analyzers page


 

Information and contact