For an integrated MPEG2 chip, you need to license Macrovision. At last count, 26 companies have..........................................
Two More Companies To Supply Copy Protection-Capable Integrated Circuits
SUNNYVALE, CA (February 11, 1997) - IBM and Rohm Co., Ltd. have become licensed to include Macrovision's enhanced copy protection technology for Pay-Per-View (PPV) and Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) applications, it was announced today. There are now 26 companies authorized to include this technology in their video encoder ICs. I think they mean both encoders/decoders. Read on.
Copy protection-capable circuits developed by Macrovision-licensed IC manufacturers are included in digital satellite and cable TV set-top decoders, and in DVD players. These circuits convert digital signals into analog, and have the capability of adding copy protection signals to the analog signal sent to TV sets. This enhanced technology is designed to allow movie studios and other rights owners to provide the best possible programming for digital PPV movies and DVD, without fear of rampant consumer copying which could cannibalize their home video business.
"Copy protection is an increasingly important feature to our set-top box customers," said Stu Burroughs, product manager, IBM Microelectronics. "Macrovision's technology combined with our PowerPC embedded controllers gives our customers a powerful solution on a single chip."
"More and more IC manufacturers are producing chips with copy protection capability as a result of increased demand from DVD player and digital set top decoder manufacturers," said Mark Belinsky, Vice President of Macrovision's Copy Protection Group. "We expect this trend to continue as market demand for DVD players and digital set-top decoders with copy protection capability continues to increase."
Twelve DVD player and DVD-ROM hardware manufacturers are currently including copy protection capability in 100% of their players, including Hitachi, Ltd., Matsushita Electric Industrial Company, Pioneer Consumer Electronics, Thomson Consumer Electronics, and Toshiba Corporation. It is expected that all DVD players will have this capability when they reach the market, helping to ensure the best possible programming will be available for this new format.
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Microelectronics Technology of Taiwan Licenses Macrovision's PhaseKryptr Video Scrambling Technology
SUNNYVALE, CA (February 7, 1997) - Macrovision and Microelectronics Technology Incorporated of Taiwan jointly announced today that MTI will incorporate Macrovision's patented PhaseKrypt video scrambling technology into a new line of addressable Pay TV scrambling products.
Over the past 13 years, MTI has expanded its original product line of basic Microwave Integrated Circuit (MIC) components to include a wide range of today's most sophisticated microwave components, subsystems, and complete systems, including digital microwave radios, VSAT systems, cable/satellite TV reception and transmission equipment. The new video scrambling technology will enhance MTI's total solution capabilities in cable TV equipment. With a commitment to quality products, dependable service, and cooperation with their customers, MTI has grown to become a leading supplier of microwave and satellite communication products worldwide.
"MTI is an exceptional company with a well-deserved reputation for providing high quality equipment for Pay TV system operators," stated Greg Ellis, Macrovision's Director, Components & Licensing. "The addition of advanced PhaseKrypt-based addressable scrambling products to their product line builds upon that reputation and provides Pay TV operators worldwide a welcome alternative to scrambling systems using lower security sync suppression and inversion techniques."
PhaseKrypt is a proprietary scrambling technology that embodies advanced digital processing in the encoder and a low-cost analog implementation in the decoder which allows manufacturers to offer a highly secure, addressable pay TV system at a competitive cost. Available in all major PAL and NTSC formats, Macrovision provides the PhaseKrypt technology through an OEM encoder and decoder chip set. Currently, the technology is used for pay TV distribution in Asia and South America through various transmission paths including terrestial microwave and cable.
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Macrovision Signs Contract with Disney/Buena Vista to Copy Protect Rental and Sell Through Videocassettes Against Consumer Copying
SUNNYVALE, CA (February 3, 1997) Macrovision Corporation and Buena Vista Home Video announced today that they have signed a worldwide copy protection technology agreement through 1999. Buena Vista will continue to apply the Macrovision anticopy process to its rental and sell through videocassettes during the next three years. This agreement means that Buena Vista titles, including Disney, Hollywood Pictures, Miramax Home Entertainment, and Touchstone labels will continue to be protected against consumer back-to-back copying.
"Our license with Macrovision represents our continued effort and commitment to protect both our products and our retail partners in this business from piracy and illegal copying," stated Ann Daly, President, Buena Vista Home Video.
"Retailers carrying Buena Vista titles will continue to profit from copy protection which is designed to deter consumer back-to-back copying," said Mark Belinsky, Vice President of Macrovision's Copy Protection Group. "Reduced copying by consumers means greater potential sales and profits for retailers who rent and sell copy protected videocassettes."
Since its first commercial usage in 1985, over 1.5 billion videocassettes have been encoded with the Macrovision anticopy process worldwide.
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Thomson, Pioneer, and Hitachi To Incorporate Macrovision Copy Protection Capability In All DVD Players
SUNNYVALE, CA (January 6, 1997) - Thomson Multimedia SA, Pioneer Electronic Corporation, and Hitachi, Ltd. have recently become licensed to include an enhanced version of Macrovision's copy protection technology inside all of their DVD (digital versatile disc) players, it was announced today. Macrovision also announced that Akai Electric Co., Dooin Electronics, Quadrant International, and Sampo Corporation have recently become licensed as well. Under a royalty free agreement, these companies have agreed to include copy protection capability in all their DVD players to protect against unauthorized copying of DVD programs. Thomson, through its Thomson Consumer Electronics subsidiary, manufactures a wide range of products which are sold in the United States under the RCA, ProScan, and GE brands. Have you noticed that some of the licensee are not CUBE competitors?
In combination with the Matsushita Electric Industrial Co, Ltd. and the Toshiba Corporation, both of which have previously been licensed, a total of nine companies are now including Macrovision's copy protection capability in their DVD players. These companies are utilizing this technology in order to help ensure that major Hollywood studios and other rights owners will provide hit motion pictures on the DVD format.
"We want the DVD format to enjoy the widest range of movies and other entertainment programming, including hit motion pictures from major Hollywood studios," said Guy Johnson, Vice President of Thomson's US subsidiary Thomson Consumer Electronics. "Including Macrovision copy protection in our players will help ensure that attractive programming options are available to consumers who purchase the first DVD players when they are launched later this year."
Commenting on these agreements, Macrovision Corporation's Copy Protection Group Vice President Mark Belinsky said, "Copy protection for the DVD format has been an extremely important issue for rights owners who are concerned about the distribution of discs - especially since these discs can be used as masters to create high quality videocassette copies. We are pleased to assist DVD manufacturers in providing the copyright protection capability which can help make the DVD format a success in the marketplace."
In the DVD environment, program suppliers will, under license from Macrovision, be able to set a 'flag' on their discs which will activate the copy protection circuit in the DVD player. When such a disc is played back in a player, the Macrovision-capable circuit applies copy protection to the outgoing analog video signal. The technology will not affect viewing of the program, but will degrade copies made on most VCRs to the extent they lose their entertainment value.
The Macrovision feature is implemented inside DVD players and PCs as part of an integrated circuit which converts the digital video from the disc to the analog form required by standard TV sets. Macrovision has authorized 21 companies worldwide to incorporate its copy protection technology in their digital-to-analog semiconductor chips, including Analog Devices, Crystal Semiconductor, GEC Plessey, Mitsubishi Electric, and SGS Thomson. These guys at least make chips |
