Enforcement of MPEG-2 Infringement Verdicts Proceeds Against DVD Disc Manufacturer ODS

With the posting of security bonds earlier this
week, several patent holders enforced verdicts in the German District
court (Landgericht Dusseldorf) cases finding that DVD disc
manufacturer Optical Disc Service ("ODS") infringed patents licensed
in the MPEG-2 Patent Portfolio License offered by MPEG LA, and
enforcement of additional verdicts is expected. See
http://www.mpegla.com/news/n_06-11-30_pr.pdf. As a result, although
the verdicts can be appealed, ODS must cease and desist its current
DVD production, which uses the enforced patents, and pay damages to
the patent owners for past DVD production.

The MPEG-2 Standard is the core technology underlying the
efficient creation, transmission, storage and display of digitized
moving images and sound tracks on which DVD and other digital
technologies are based; and the DVD-Video Standard (DVD Specifications
for Read-Only Disc, Part 3: VIDEO SPECIFICATIONS) requires DVD Video
discs to contain information formatted in accordance with the MPEG-2
Standard.

MPEG LA, LLC

MPEG LA is the world leader in alternative technology licenses,
enabling users to acquire worldwide patent rights necessary for a
technology standard or platform from multiple patent holders in a
single transaction as an alternative to negotiating separate licenses.
Wherever an independently administered one-stop patent license would
provide a convenient marketplace alternative to assist users with
implementation of their technology choices, the licensing model
pioneered and employed by MPEG LA may provide a solution. Among MPEG
LA's licenses is one for MPEG-2 digital video compression that has
helped produce the most widely employed standard in consumer
electronics history. The MPEG-2 Patent Portfolio License, which
includes approximately 800 MPEG-2 essential patents in 57 countries,
has more than 1000 licensees accounting for most MPEG-2 products,
including an estimated 90% of all DVD discs, in the current world
market. MPEG LA is an independent licensing administrator; it is not
related to any standards agency and is not an affiliate of any patent
holder. For more information, please refer to http://www.mpegla.com.