The DVD6C Licensing Group (DVD6C) announced that it has revised its worldwide patent licensing programme beginning 1 January 2008, which offers reduced royalty rates on certain products and additional licensing options.

Key changes to the new licensing program include the following:

– Reduction of royalty rates for DVD Read-Only Discs (i.e., the DVD-Video Disc, DVD-Audio Disc and DVD-ROM Disc) from $0.045/Disc to $0.040/Disc for sales of DVD Read-Only Discs beginning on or after the effective date of the ‘New DVD6C License.’

– The addition of +R Discs and +RW Discs as new categories of licensed DVD Products. The royalty rates for +R Discs shall be the same as the current royalty rates for DVD-R Discs, and the royalty rates for +RW Discs shall be the same as the current royalty rates for DVD-RW Discs.

– Inclusion of Time Limited DVD Discs in the DVD-ROM Disc, DVD-Video Disc and DVD-Audio Disc categories of licensed DVD Products.

The interested parties will remain free to negotiate individual license agreements with DVD6C’s member companies, rather than taking out a single portfolio license or license for a category of products.

The member companies have committed to provide such licenses under ‘fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory’ terms and conditions. For the convenience of current and prospective licensees, the royalty rates to be offered under the New DVD6C License are shown in the table below.

Story filed 28.01.08