Sonic Solutions(R) (NASDAQ:SNIC), Novato, Calif., a leader in
digital media software, announced that its US Patent 6,944,621 for
dynamic content revision has been deemed essential to the HD DVD
specification for HD DVD players and optical media for the purpose of
participating in a joint HD DVD Patent Portfolio License being
facilitated by MPEG LA. As previously announced, the Sonic '621
patent was also deemed essential to the Blu-ray Disc specification for
BD players and optical media. The Sonic technology covered in the
'621 patent -- one of several the company has related to new
high-definition formats -- allows for updating or augmenting multimedia
content on portable storage media including CD, DVD, UMD, flash memory,
HD DVD, and Blu-ray Disc. In addition to Sonic's intention to
participate in the Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD Patent Portfolio Licenses,
the company will continue to license the '621 patent directly to
content owners, online service providers, software developers, game
console manufacturers, consumer electronics companies, in-game
advertisers, and other industry partners developing online services and
non-high definition applications.
Sonic's dynamic content revision technology enables publishers
of content on any portable storage media to update or augment that
content over the Web or through a local cache. Movie studios, for
example, can replace trailers or change menu selections, and game
console software makers can deliver in-game advertisements over the
internet, providing a very cost-effective way to keep content
"fresh" and deliver ongoing value-added promotions and
e-commerce offerings to form a more direct relationship with the
entertainment viewer. The same technology is already widely-licensed by
major Hollywood studios today for use on standard-definition DVD
releases of InterActual(R)-enabled titles such as 'Lord of the
Rings: Return of the King', 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of
Azkaban', and the 'Star Wars Trilogy'.
"The inclusion of Sonic in the formation of the HD DVD Patent
Portfolio License underscores our technology depth and our continued
investment in the success of new digital-media formats," said Dave
Habiger, president and CEO, Sonic Solutions. "From patented
technologies for high definition to our innovative Sonic DVD On
Demand(TM) platform that creates new models for the electronic
sell-through of video entertainment, Sonic and our world-class research
and development team continues to shape and enhance consumers'
digital media experiences and generate significant growth opportunities
for our company."
About Sonic Patents
Sonic Solutions' focus on product leadership and innovation
has resulted in an extensive patent portfolio in the areas of digital
media content creation, playback and recording -- many of them essential
to the next generation of interactive, high-definition content.
Sonic's licensing group enables third parties like Adobe,
Microsoft, Scientific-Atlanta, Sony and others to add digital media
creation to their PC applications and consumer electronics set-top-box
products. More information about licensing and Sonic's patent
portfolio is available at: (http://www.sonic.com/innovation/patents).
About Sonic Solutions
Sonic Solutions (Nasdaq: SNIC; http://www.sonic.com/) enables the
creation, management, and enjoyment of digital media content through its
Hollywood to Home(TM) products, services, and technologies. Sonic's
products range from the advanced authoring systems used to produce
Hollywood DVD, HD DVD, and Blu-ray Disc film releases to the
award-winning Roxio(R)-branded photo, video, music, and digital-media
management applications. Sonic's patented technologies and
AuthorScript(R) media engine are relied upon by leading technology firms
to define rich media experiences on a wide array of consumer
electronics, mobile devices, set-top players, retail kiosks, and PCs.
Always an innovator, Sonic has taken a leading role in helping
professional and consumer markets make the successful transition to the
new high-definition media formats and, through the DVD On Demand(TM) and
Qflix platforms, Sonic is defining new models for the digital
distribution of premium Hollywood entertainment. Sonic Solutions is
headquartered in Marin County, California.
For more information, visit http://www.sonic.com or call
408/367-5231
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