Sonic Patent to be Included in Formation of HD DVD Portfolio License
Dynamic Content Revision Patent Applies to Specification for HD DVD Players and Optical Media
NOVATO, California (August 28, 2007) - Sonic
Solutions® (NASDAQ: SNIC),
the leader in digital media software, announced today that its US Patent
6,944,621 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®-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™ 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™ 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®-branded photo, video, music, and digital-media management applications.
Sonic’s patented technologies and AuthorScript® 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™ and Qflix platforms, Sonic is defining
new models for the digital distribution of premium Hollywood entertainment.
Sonic Solutions is headquartered in Marin County, California.
Sonic, the Sonic logo, Sonic Solutions, Qflix, AuthorScript, Hollywood
to Home, InterActual, Sonic DVD On Demand, Roxio are trademarks or
registered trademarks of Sonic Solutions or its subsidiaries in the
United States and/or other countries. All other company or product
names are trademarks of their respective owners and, in some cases,
are used by Sonic Solutions under license.
The above paragraphs of this press release may contain forward looking
statements that are based upon current expectations. Actual results
could differ materially from those projected in the forward looking
statements as a result of various risks and uncertainties, including
those discussed in the Company's annual and quarterly reports on file
with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This press release should
be read in conjunction with the Company's most recent annual report
on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Registration Statement on file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, which contain a more detailed discussion
of the Company's business including risks and uncertainties that may
affect future results. The Company does not undertake to update any
forward looking statements.
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