In the shadow of the blows taken recently by the HD DVD camp, MPEG LA is still working on a joint HD DVD patent licence, and has expanded its call for "patents essential to the implementation of the HD DVD Standard".

A spokesman from the licensing body told One to One magazine: "MPEG LA's effort is to try to facilitate essential patent holders in the creation of a joint patent licence to assist users with whatever technology choices they may make, and as long as there continues to be market interest in such a licence, that effort continues."

In what it calls "its continued response to marketplace interest in the creation of a joint HD DVD patent licence including as much essential intellectual property as possible", MPEG LA is calling for patents to include the following specifications:

– DVD Specifications for High Density Read-Only Disc (HD DVD-ROM) Part 1 Optional Specifications: Triple Layer Twin Format Disc

– DVD Specifications for High Density Read-Only Disc (HD DVD-ROM) Part 1 Physical Specifications (51 Gbytes).

MPEG LA's plan for forming a joint patent portfolio license to provide users with fair, reasonable, non-discriminatory access to the HD DVD technology as an alternative to negotiating separate licences was first announced in May last year. The inclusion of these specifications are in addition to the other parts of the standard.

Story filed 20.01.08