The MEDIA-TECH Association announce the formation of a new executive committee, which will be comprised of the main independent replicators with a European presence. The new committee is chaired by Michael Gutowski of InfoDisc in Germany – the first independent replicator in Europe to produce Blu-ray. Founding members include Cinram, CDA, InfoDisc, kdg mediatech, MPO, and Sonopress/arvato.

“There is currently no real voice out there to promote packaged media, whether it is CD, DVD, or Blu-ray,” comments Association Managing Director Bryan Ekus.” The equipment manufacturers and replicators realised that a collective voice would be of great benefit to everyone. This new committee, under the MEDIA-TECH umbrella provides a forum for everyone to get together to discuss the issues that concern everyone.”

Benefits will include active participation in the industry’s centralised voice for media manufacturing; anti-trust protection under the umbrella of the MEDIA-TECH Association; a promotional tool for the optical disc industry; and the opportunity to shape the direction of industry events.

“The new committee is not aimed at replacing or undermining any existing associations, but to focus on making it easier for companies to promote and manufacture both standard and hi-def optical media, and to lower the entry bars for independents,” says Ekus.

The committee aims to be the communication channel for the industry, and create events to ensure like-minded business networking and consumer awareness. In addition, it will address issues that affect the market, such as piracy and regional market barriers, and report on these findings, as well as tackling legal and technology transfer issues that impede business growth, such as AACS and the current lack of an economic plan for Blu-ray Disc royalties.

Committee Chairman Michael Gutowski adds: “Our aim is to promote the industry and raise awareness of Blu-ray and all the issues surrounding it. We want to be able to open discussions with the relevant companies and organisations to find a way to move forward on helping to level the Blu-ray playing field for the independent companies. The industry has been shrinking and it makes sense for us all to put our resources together to a common aim.”

A notable absent in the new membership is French independent replicator QOL, one of Europe’s Blu-ray Disc pioneers. “Put succinctly, I do not share the organisation’s purpose,” Laurent Villaume, the company CEO, told DVD Intelligence. “My experience has showed me that independent replicators do not understand the nature of an organisation, and I know what I am talking about, having been president of the Association of VHS replicators from 1992 to 2000.” Villaume is already president of the Optical Disc Association, that is working closely with iODRA, the International Optical Disc Replicators Association.

Story filed 15.06.09