The Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem (DECE) announced the launch of its UltraViolet licensing program for content, technology and service providers.
For more information visit: www.uvvu.com
Unedited press release follows:
UltraViolet™ Begins B2B Deployment in U.S. Market
Licensing Program Launched for Groundbreaking Video Ecosystem
UltraViolet will Permit Cloud Access through Open Digital Rights Locker System
LOS ANGELES–The Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem (DECE) LLC, an open, cross-industry consortium of more than 70 companies dedicated to facilitating the development and operation of UltraViolet™, today announced the launch of its licensing program for content, technology and service providers. DECE continues to anticipate that, beginning this fall, consumers in the United States will be able to purchase select movies and TV shows with UltraViolet rights.
Designed to address growing discontent with today’s siloed market for digital video, UltraViolet will provide consumers with a new, compelling way to collect and enjoy movies and TV shows from a wide array of outlets. This ecosystem will combine the benefits of cloud access with the power of an open, industry standard–empowering consumers to use multiple content services and device brands interchangeably, at home and on-the-go.
Becoming an UltraViolet licensee will enable companies to implement technical specs; market content, services and products with the UltraViolet name and logo; and make use of a centralized digital rights locker system for consumers’ management of their UltraViolet proofs-of-purchase. Licensing is available for companies to participate in UltraViolet through one or more of five defined roles: content provider, retailer, streaming service provider, app/device maker, and download infrastructure/services provider. Information on licensing can be found at www.uvvu.com.
Mark Teitell, UltraViolet’s General Manager, commented: “Consumers are looking for a better value proposition to own and collect digital movies and TV shows–a proposition that provides downloads, streaming and physical copy viewing options which are accessible on multiple platforms. The initiation of UltraViolet’s business-to-business (B2B) licensing program represents another key step in the development and roll-out of this new ecosystem designed to respond to this consumer demand. Interest in UltraViolet has been robust and we are excited about the number of companies seeking to play roles in the delivery of Ultraviolet to consumers in the coming months.”
DECE also published its technical specifications that define how the various ecosystem roles work together to bring UltraViolet to consumers. The specifications will ensure a consistent consumer experience, and ease the implementation process for participating companies. UltraViolet’s specifications include a universal Common File Format for downloads, which allows consumers to copy playable files directly among multiple brands of registered apps/devices, even as they may run different UltraViolet-compliant Digital Rights Management (DRM) systems. With the Common File Format, titles intended for downloading will be encoded and encrypted by the entertainment content providers just once, but will play across multiple platforms, creating a highly efficient and streamlined alternative to today’s vertical distribution systems.
Initial UltraViolet licensees are now integrating with and beta testing the digital rights locker system, which DECE will operate as a shared cloud resource for all licensees. Neustar (NYSE:NSR), a provider of market-leading, innovative network and digital media interconnectivity solutions, was selected by DECE as a key partner to build and operate the UltraViolet technology infrastructure.
Support for the development and launch of UltraViolet continues to expand among the world’s leading content, technology and retail companies. During the first half of 2011, DECE added eight new member companies, including AMD, Blockbuster Inc., CyberLink Corp., NVIDIA Corporation, PacketVideo Corp., Roadshow Entertainment, SeaChange and Walmart’s Vudu. DECE now includes more than 70 members in ten countries, spanning entertainment, software, hardware, retail, infrastructure and digital delivery.
About Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem (DECE) LLC
The Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem (DECE) LLC is an open, cross-industry consortium formed to facilitate the development and operation of UltraViolet™ – a groundbreaking ecosystem delivering a new and compelling digital media experience for home video entertainment. Centered around a shared, cloud-based account and an interoperable digital rights locker system, UltraViolet will allow consumers to create personal virtual video libraries, with the freedom to access movies and TV shows both at home and on-the-go across multiple devices.
DECE is currently made up of more than 70 member companies, including many of the world’s leading movie studios, technology providers, consumer device makers and entertainment retailers: Adobe, Akamai Technologies, Alcatel-Lucent, AMD, Arris, Arxan Technologies, Best Buy, Blockbuster, British Sky Broadcasting Limited, BT, CableLabs, Catch Media, Cineplex Entertainment, Cisco, Comcast, Cox Communications, CSG Systems, CyberLink Corp., Dell, Deluxe Digital, DivX, Dolby Laboratories, DTS, Fanhattan, FilmFlex, Fox Entertainment, Fujitsu, Hewlett-Packard, Huawei Technologies, IBM, Intel, Irdeto, LG Electronics, Liberty Global, Lionsgate, LOVEFiLM, Marvell Semiconductor, Microsoft, Motorola Mobility, Nagravision, NBCUniversal, NDS Group, Netflix, Neustar, Nokia, NVIDIA, PacketVideo, Panasonic, Paramount Pictures, Philips, QuickPlay Media Inc., RIAA, Red Bee Media, Roadshow Entertainment, Rovi, Saffron Digital, Samsung Electronics, SeaChange, Sony, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Technicolor, Tesco, Toshiba, Verance, Verimatrix, VeriSign, Vudu, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Widevine Technologies Inc. and Zoran. For more information, please visit http://www.uvvu.com.