One-Blue, LLC announced that on April 1, 2011 it plans to launch its “one-stop shop” essential patent license program for Blu-ray Disc (BD) products.
As a matter of background, the One-Blue program includes essential patents for Blu-ray, DVD and CD standards as they pertain to Blu-ray hardware, Blu-ray PC software and Blu-ray discs. Companies currently participating in the patent pool include Cyberlink Corporation, Hitachi Consumer Electronics, Panasonic Corporation, Royal Philips Electronics, Samsung Electronics and Sony Corporation.
One-Blue Royalty Rates
| Licensed Product | Royalty Rate (USD) |
| BD Player | $ 9.00 |
| BD Recorder | $ 12.00 |
| BD PB Drive | $ 7.00 |
| BD Combi Drive | $ 8.00 |
| BD Rec. Drive | $ 9.00 |
| BD PB Software | $ 2.00 ($ 1.25*) |
| BD Combi Software | $ 2.50 ($ 1.50*) |
| BD Rec. Software | $ 3.00 ($ 1.75*) |
| BD Video Disc | $ 0.0975 |
| BD-ROM Disc | $ 0.0725 |
| BD-R Disc | $ 0.1075 |
| BD-RE Disc | $ 0.1350 |
* Royalty Rate to be paid by PC maker for pre-installed SW in PC
One-Blue also announced that Roel Kramer, president of the Blu-ray Disc Association since 2007, has been appointed as CEO of One-Blue. Mr. Kramer succeeds Jerry Rosenthal who had served as One-Blue’s CEO since it was established in 2009.
For more information visit: www.one-blue.com
Unedited press release follows:
One-Blue will launch One-Stop Shop Licensing Program on April 1st, 2011
New CEO to Lead Licensing Program for Blu-ray Disc™ Products
(New York, USA – January 18, 2011) One-Blue, LLC, an independent licensing company, today announced it will launch a one-stop shop product license for patents essential to Blu-ray Disc™ products on April 1st, 2011, subject to necessary governmental clearance. One-Blue also announced that Mr. Roel Kramer has been appointed as CEO of One-Blue. Mr. Kramer, who has been the President of the Blu-ray Disc Association since 2007, succeeds Mr. Jerry Rosenthal, who had served as CEO since One-Blue was established in 2009.
“One-Blue has been designed to provide an important service to the entire industry while at the same time stimulating the growth and adoption for Blu-ray Disc™ products,” said Mr. Kramer. “I look forward to working with all of the companies participating in the One-Blue patent pool as we gear up to make the licensing program available in the marketplace by April 2011.”
Since issuing its call for Blu-ray Disc™ product patents in October 2009, One-Blue has been working diligently with potential licensors to ensure wide-spread adoption of the license program that One-Blue will administer. As part of this activity, new royalty rates under the licenses were recently announced. The new rates are now US$9.00 for a Blu-ray Disc™ player and US$12.00 for a Blu-ray Disc™ recorder, US$0.0975 for a BD-read only video disc, US$0.1075 for a BD-recordable disc and US$0.1350 for a BD-rewritable disc. Other royalty rates can be found on the renewed website www.one-blue.com.
It is still possible to submit patents for evaluation. Any holder of patents essential to optical formats used in Blu-ray Disc™ products is invited to join the program as a licensor. More information can be found on www.one-blue.com.
About One-Blue, LLC
One-Blue, LLC is an independent licensing company that will administer a one-stop shop product license for patents essential to Blu-ray Disc™ products. Companies participating in One-Blue will include Cyberlink Corporation, Hitachi Consumer Electronics, Panasonic Corporation, Royal Philips Electronics, Samsung Electronics and Sony Corporation.