The Blu-ray Disc Association announced yesterday at the CES at Las Vegas that the format specification is complete and that licensing is ready to begin for BD-ROM, BD-RE and BD-R. The completion of the specification now enables content providers and manufacturers to begin the process of producing Blu-ray Disc products for a wide variety of uses.

The Blu-ray Disc Association approved these specifications on 2 January 2006. Licensing of the BD-R and BD-RE 2.0 specifications began 26 December 2005. Specifications have been approved for the Blu-ray Disc single (25GB) and dual (50GB) layer specifications.

“We are very pleased to announce this very important milestone for the Blu-ray Disc format,” said Victor Matsuda, global chairman, Blu-ray Disc Association Promotions Committee. “The completion of these specifications is an important step in establishing Blu-ray Disc as the premiere next-generation optical disc format and provides manufacturers with the information they need to launch products beginning this Spring.”

With the completion of these specifications, consumers can expect to see Blu-ray discs in the market over the course of the next few months, says the association.

Parties interested in licensing the Blu-ray Disc technology should contact the Blu-ray Disc License Agent (agent@blu-raydisc.info of fax +81-3-5769 5727) and execute the required license agreement. Companies interesting in developing, manufacturing, and selling Blu-ray Disc products must sign a license agreement to comply with the format specifications.


Blu-ray hardware and software announcements

Players & Recorders LG Electronics, Panasonic, Pioneer, Royal Philips Electronics, Sony Electronics, Samsung

Computer drives Panasonic, Pioneer, Royal Philips Electronics, Sony Electronics

Media Sony DADC, TDK, Verbatim/MKM

PC applications interVideo, Nero, New Tech Infosystems, Inc., Sonic

Buena Vista Home Entertainment Kill Bill: Vol. 1, Hero; Dark Water, Ladder 49,The Brothers Grimm, The Great Raid , Armageddon, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Dinosaur, Everest

Lions Gate Home Entertainment Lord of War, The Punisher, Devil’s Rejects, Saw, T2: Judgment Day, Reservoir Dogs, Total Recall, Dune, Rambo: First Blood, See No Evil.

Paramount Home Entertainment Four Brothers, Sahara, Aeon Flux , Sky Captain & the World of Tomorrow, The Italian Job, Tomb Raider, U2: Rattle and Hum, Sleepy Hollow, We Were Soldiers, Manchurian Candidate, Mission Impossible, Mission Impossible 2, Mission Impossible 3. (Backing both Blu-ray and HD-DVD, the studio will release these titles on both formats).

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and MGM The Fifth Element, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Desperado, For a Few Dollars More, The Guns of Navarone, Hitch, House of Flying Daggers, A Knight’s Tale, Kung Fu Hustle, The Last Waltz, Legends of the Fall, Resident Evil Apocalypse, Robocop, Sense and Sensibility, Stealth, Species, SWAT, XXX, Black Hawk Down, The Bridge on the River Kwai.

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment 20 Titles, including Fantastic Four, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen,Behind Enemy Lines, Kiss of the Dragon, Ice Age.

Warner Bros. Batman Begins, Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, Constantine, The Dukes of Hazzard, The Last Samurai, Lethal Weapon, The Matrix, Million Dollar Baby, Oceans 12, Swordfish, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, Training Day, Troy, Twister, Unforgiven.

Eagle Rock Entertainment 20 music titles from artists including George Benson, Usher, the Black Crowes, Miles Davis and the Pixies.

Sony BMG Music titles to be announced.

Movie titles for release in Japan only Angel Seekers (from Air TBS), New Cinema Paradise (from Asmik Ace Entertainment, Inc.), Steamboy (from Bandai Visual Company).

Story filed 06.01.06