DVD Forum
The DVD Forum is an international association of hardware and software producers, content providers and also other businesses whose activity is connected with Digital Versatile Disc technology. The aim of the organisation is above all the exchange of experience and information connected with DVDs, the introduction of innovation and broadening of the technical possibilities of this medium.
The forum also acts on behalf of the promotion of this type of optical disc and the universality of its use in such fields as: consumer electronics and the IT industry.
The DVD Forum was established in 1995, with its headquarters in Tokyo, and was founded by such concerns as:
• Hitachi Ltd.,
• Matsushita Electronic Industrial Co. Ltd.,
• Mitsubishi Electronic Corporation,
• Pioneer Electronic Corporation,
• Sony Corporation,
• Thomson,
• Time Warner Inc.,
• Toshiba Corporation,
• Victor Company of Japan, Ltd.
At first assuming the name DVD Consortium, in April 1997 this was changed to the DVD Forum. Approx. 230 firms connected with Digital Versatile Disc technology currently belong to the organisation. With respect to the geography of the DVD Forum’s members, 34% of the firms originate in Japan, 29% in America, ¼ in Asia, and businesses from Europe constitute 12% of the total number of the DVD Forum’s members.
Members of the Forum can be firms and organisations who are, or who would like to be engaged in research into, development or production of DVD mediums. Producers of software reliant on this format and its use, interested in introducing further improvement, also belong to the group.
Signatories to the DVD Forum were classified into two groups. The first of these hold Principal status, granted to members being able to boast visible input to the development of DVD technology and its promotion. Thanks to the confidentiality clause, they have the right to actively participate in the work of the DVD Forum on the study of new technical specifications of the medium. Associate status gives slightly less rights. Its holders can take part in the current activities of the organisation, but without the possibility of participating in research and development.
Within the structure of the DVD Forum specialist groups and committees are functional in:
• Technological coordination,
• Verification policies
• Promotion and communication,
• Consultancy and administration.
They realise the mission of the organisation, and their members are representatives of firms affiliated to the DVD Forum. The elaboration of work on specific tasks, especially in the field of study into technological specifications, has a place in the structure of the DVD Forum on the level of scientific groups. They take on such issues as: DVD-Video, the technical specification of DVD-ROM, the specification of system files for DVD type mediums, applications of DVD-Audio, the specification of DVD-RAM, DVD-R and DVD-RW, the protection of authoring rights, professional applications and also DVD relying on blue laser technology. Active participation in such groups is only possible for holders of Principal status.
Within the framework of its activity, the DVD Forum also organises a series of conferences, seminars and meetings of the organisation’s members, where they can share their experiences and observations, and can exchange opinions connected with DVD technology. Apart from in these capacities, it must also be remembered that the Forum retains the rights to the name and logo types connected with DVDs.