HDMI Founders Look for New Blood

HDMI Licensing, LLC announced that it has created a new organization designed to elicit broader industry participation in developing future versions of the High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) specification.

For more information visit: www.hdmiforum.org


Unedited press releases follows:

HDMI® Founders Announce Initiative to Broaden Industry Participation in HDMI Specification Development

HDMI Forum Open to Companies Interested in Contributing to the Development of Future Versions of the HDMI Specification

SUNNYVALE, Calif.–HDMI Licensing, LLC, the agent responsible for licensing the High-Definition Multimedia Interface® (HDMI®) Specification on behalf of the HDMI Founders, today announced HDMI Forum, Inc., a new organization designed to foster broader industry participation in the development of future versions of the HDMI Specification. All future standardization activities, including development of the Specifications, will be transitioned to the new organization. Membership in the HDMI Forum is open to any interested company wishing to become a member.

“With over 1,100 adopters of the technology, and over 2 billion HDMI-enabled products shipped since launching the standard in 2003, the HDMI Founders strongly believe that the next leap in growth will come with broader industry participation,” said Steve Venuti, president of HDMI Licensing, LLC. “Due to the overwhelming success of the HDMI Specification and the increased adoption of the standard in a wide variety of applications and industries, the HDMI Founders decided to establish the HDMI Forum, a new organization where interested companies can become an integral part of the development process.”

Current HDMI Adopters
The current HDMI licensing model provides access to critical intellectual property at a minimal cost for those who adopt and implement the HDMI Specification. For that reason, Adopters of the HDMI 1.4 Specification will see no change in their day-to-day business as it relates to their interaction with HDMI Licensing, LLC. Current Adopters who wish to license future versions of the Specifications will be able to do so under a similar model.

To find out more about the HDMI Forum, the benefits of membership, membership fees, or to download a participation agreement, visit www.hdmi.org and click on the HDMI Forum link or visit http://www.hdmiforum.org/.

About HDMI Licensing, LLC
HDMI Licensing, LLC is the agent responsible for licensing the HDMI specification, promoting the HDMI standard and providing education on the benefits of the HDMI specification to Adopters, retailers, and consumers. The HDMI specification was developed by Hitachi Consumer Electronics Co., Ltd.; Panasonic Corporation; Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.; Silicon Image, Inc.; Sony Corporation; Technicolor S.A. and Toshiba Corporation as the all-digital interface standard for the consumer electronics and personal computer markets. The HDMI specification combines uncompressed high-definition video, multi-channel audio, and data in a single digital interface to provide crystal-clear digital quality over a single cable. HDMI Licensing, LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Silicon Image, Inc. (NASDAQ: SIMG). For more information about the HDMI specification, please visit www.hdmi.org.

HDMI® Forum, Inc. Call for Members and Contributions

SUNNYVALE, Calif.–HDMI Forum, Inc., a non-profit, mutual benefit corporation, is announcing a call for members and contributions. The HDMI Forum has been established to foster broader industry participation in the development of future versions of the HDMI Specification. Membership in the HDMI Forum is open to any interested companies wishing to actively contribute to the development of future HDMI Specifications, as well as participate in other HDMI Specification-related activities. HDMI Forum members will have the opportunity to nominate and elect a Board of Directors, which is scheduled to take place in November 2011.

Call for HDMI Forum Members and Contributions
Companies that join by November 14, 2011 will have the opportunity to nominate a candidate for the initial Board of Directors as well as participate in the initial Board of Director vote. The cost for an annual membership is US$15,000. The HDMI Forum is also officially calling for contributions to the HDMI Specification to be discussed at upcoming Technical Working Group meetings scheduled for November and December of 2011.

To provide an opportunity to learn more, the HDMI Forum will be holding an orientation meeting for interested companies on Monday, October 31st. Companies are required to register to attend. To register, or to learn more about the HDMI Forum, benefits of membership, membership fees, or to download a participation agreement, visit www.hdmiforum.org.

About the HDMI Forum
The HDMI Forum is being established to foster broader industry participation in the development of future versions of the HDMI Specification and to further expand the ecosystem of interoperable, HDMI-enabled products. The HDMI Forum expects to bring together the world’s leading manufacturers of consumer electronics, personal computers, mobile devices, cables and component manufacturers. Until such time that the HDMI Forum has elected its Board of Directors, the HDMI Founders have designated the law firm of Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt as incorporator of the HDMI Forum. For more information, please visit www.hdmiforum.org.