The PREMIER BD Licensing Group announced it has reduced the patent royalty rates payable on Blu-ray Disc (BD) players, recorders and drives.

For more information visit: www.premier-bd.com

Unedited press release follows:

PREMIER BD Announces Royalty Reduction for BD Player, BD Recorder and related products

October 25, 2017 — The PREMIER BD Licensing Group (PREMIER BD) consisting of six leading developers of BD technology and formats — Disney Enterprises, Inc., Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York, Thomson Licensing (S.A.S.), Toshiba IPR Solutions, Inc. and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Inc. — today announced that it has revised its worldwide patent licensing program, which offers the following reduced royalty rates on BD Player, BD Recorder and related products applied beginning on and after January 1, 2018,

1   For a BD-Video Player, US$3.60 per player (reduced from US$4.50).
2   For a BD-Video Combo Player, US$4.80 per player (reduced from US$6.00).
3   For a BD-ROM Drive, US$3.20 per drive (reduced from US$4.00).
4   For a BD-ROM Combo Drive, US$4.00 per drive (reduced from US$5.00).
5   For a BD Video Recorder, US$5.60 per recorder (reduced from US$7.00).
6   For a BD-Video Combo Recorder, US$4.80 per recorder (reduced from US$6.00).
7   For a BD Recordable Disc Drive, US$4.80 per drive (reduced from US$6.00).
8   For a BD Combo Recordable Disc Drive, US$4.00 per drive (reduced from US$5.00).

PREMIER BD’s members have authorized Toshiba Corporation to act as a licensor on their behalf in licensing their essential BD patents and, as applicable, DVD patents as part of this joint patent licensing program.

New or existing licensees interested in receiving the reduced royalty rates may enter into a new license agreement incorporating the revised royalty terms.

For further information regarding the PREMIER BD licensing program, please contact one of the regional contacts shown on the PREMIER BD web site (http://www.premier-bd.com/).