Original URL: http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/02/10/toshiba_lg_patent_licence/
Toshiba and LG have agreed to share their respective optical disc patent portfolios the better to make each company's product development budget go further. The deal covers not only discs, but players and recorders too, and even extends to HD DVD - an interesting move given LG's preference for the Blu-ray Disc format.
For that reason, some commentators have seen the move as beneficial to the Toshiba-backed next-generation disc format, but there are far more factors effecting HD DVD's potential for success of failure in the marketplace than the two partners' profit margins.
Last month, LG said it would ship its first BD player, the BD199, in Q2. Given the uncertainty over which format will win the hearts, minds and disposable incomes of consumers, it's prudent to have a foot in the other camp. Similarly, Toshiba gets access to whatever BD intellectual property LG has up its sleeve.
More to the point, the deal goes a lot further than the HD DVD/BD battle and touches on both companies much broader recordable and rewriteable CD and DVD interests, all of which are likely to be bigger than HD media for some time yet.
The terms and conditions underpinning the agreement were not disclosed. ®
Supremes to rule on PC makers' patent spat (26 September 2007)
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2007/09/26/supreme_court_hears_lg_patent_case/
LG pours Chocolate into Europe (3 May 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/05/03/lg_kg800_chocolate_europe/
Fujitsu unveils world's third HD DVD laptop (11 April 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/04/11/fujitsu_95sd_hd-dvd_laptop/
Toshiba HD DVD player ships in Japan (31 March 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/31/toshiba_hd-dvd_hd-xa1_on_sale/
LG to ship GSM-flavoured Chocolate in Europe (21 March 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/21/lg_gsm_chocolate/
Warner HD DVD debut delayed (17 March 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/17/warner_hd_dvd_roll-out_delay/
Region-free HD DVD to debut in Europe 'next month' (8 March 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/08/euro_hd-dvd_roll-out/
Sony to ship blank Blu-ray Discs this month (7 March 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/07/sony_blank_blu-ray_media/
LG Blu-ray Disc player to support HD DVD too? (6 March 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/06/lg_blu-ray_hd-dvd_plans/
Blu-ray to hit US in May (28 February 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/02/28/blu-ray_us_launch_date/
Sony, NEC to merge optical drive teams (27 February 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/02/27/sony_nec_merge_optical_drive_teams/
Sony touts 'thrills'n'stills' HD camcorder (21 February 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/02/21/sony_launches_hdr-h3c/
MS says no to Xbox 360 Blu-ray support (18 January 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/01/18/ms_says_no_xbox_360_blu-ray/
Blu-ray Disc developers complete specification (6 January 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/01/06/blu-ray_spec_done/
Samsung to ship Blu-ray 'first' with April player launch (5 January 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/01/05/samsung_blu-ray_first/
Sony Blu-ray Disc player coming 'this summer' (5 January 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/01/05/sony_blu-ray_player_plan/
HD DVD to come to Europe this year, hints studio (5 January 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/01/05/euro_hd-dvd_debut/
HD DVD to debut in US in March (5 January 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/01/05/hd-dvd_march_debut_us/
Xbox 360 to get HD DVD drive (5 January 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/01/05/xbox_360_hd-dvd/
HP goes HD DVD (19 December 2005)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2005/12/19/hp_goes_hd-dvd/