DVDplus
Encyclopedia
The DVDplus is a dual-sided disc similar to the DualDisc
. It is an optical disc
storage
technology that combines the technology of DVD
and CD in one disc. A DVD and a CD-compatible layer are bonded together to provide a multi-format hybrid disc. DVDplus, like DualDisc, is not a new format as such: it combines two existing formats, DVD and CD, to produce a new product.
DVDplus is currently available in three variants:
These variants can be combined: for example the DVD side can contain a DVD-Video zone, a DVD-Audio zone and a ROM/file download zone, just as is the case with conventional DVDs.
It will eventually be possible to produce the DVDplus with upcoming formats, such as Blu-ray.
All DVDplus formats can be played both on conventional CD players, on DVD players and on the computer
(the format is compatible with approximately 99% of the players on the market).
There has been some controversy (See MSNBC article) surrounding the DVDplus format as of late, as United States record labels have attempted to roll out its DualDisc format with a specification that the creators of DVDplus claim is in violation of its essential patent
s (but see below for the actual patent status of DVDPlus).
According to the DVDPlus website, in December 2004, Sony DADC
signed a global license
agreement http://www.dvdplusint.com/news/index.php with DVDplus International, the makers of DVDplus.
To circumvent legal wrangles, manufacturers releasing DualDiscs in Europe have generally, so far, paid a licence fee to Dierks, even though the discs they are releasing are actually DualDiscs and not DVDplus discs. This has generally been achieved by using certified DualDisc plants that are also licensed to make DVDplus discs.
It would be erroneous to think of DVDplus as 'the European equivalent of DualDisc'. Some record companies in the USA, notably Ryko, have released DVDplus products, and DualDisc is now a great deal more common in Europe (though not as common as in the USA). They are essentially two similar approaches to the same goal, although the RIAA has pointed out that DualDisc is a music medium, and not a video medium. No such nominal restriction applies to DVDplus.
Although theoretically almost identical, DVDplus discs have so far appeared in practice - despite claims to the contrary - to measure as having slightly thicker CD-compatible layers than DualDiscs (though not sufficiently thick to make them conform to CD Red Book specifications). As a result, DVDplus has been able to claim a higher level of compatibility with CD players than DualDisc (where the thinness of the CD-compatible layer has shown some incompatibilities with a few players). This also meant that there were no limitations to the CD-compatible side's playing time as was the case with early DualDiscs. However, increased overall disc thickness risks an increased likelihood of the disc getting stuck in slot-loading players and autochangers. Despite these factors, return rates for both of the dual-sided disc products as a result of either sticking or non-playability are claimed to be extremely small.
. A search in the trademarks database of the European Union's Office of Harmonisation of the Internal Market (OHIM) reveals that the trademark was registered in 2001.
DualDisc
DualDisc was a type of double-sided optical disc product developed by a group of record companies including EMI Music, Universal Music Group, Sony/BMG Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, and 5.1 Entertainment Group and later under the aegis of the Recording Industry Association of America...
. It is an optical disc
Optical disc
In computing and optical disc recording technologies, an optical disc is a flat, usually circular disc which encodes binary data in the form of pits and lands on a special material on one of its flat surfaces...
storage
Data storage device
thumb|200px|right|A reel-to-reel tape recorder .The magnetic tape is a data storage medium. The recorder is data storage equipment using a portable medium to store the data....
technology that combines the technology of DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
and CD in one disc. A DVD and a CD-compatible layer are bonded together to provide a multi-format hybrid disc. DVDplus, like DualDisc, is not a new format as such: it combines two existing formats, DVD and CD, to produce a new product.
DVDplus is currently available in three variants:
- CD / DVD
- CD / DVD-Audio
- DVD / ROM
These variants can be combined: for example the DVD side can contain a DVD-Video zone, a DVD-Audio zone and a ROM/file download zone, just as is the case with conventional DVDs.
It will eventually be possible to produce the DVDplus with upcoming formats, such as Blu-ray.
All DVDplus formats can be played both on conventional CD players, on DVD players and on the computer
Computer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
(the format is compatible with approximately 99% of the players on the market).
There has been some controversy (See MSNBC article) surrounding the DVDplus format as of late, as United States record labels have attempted to roll out its DualDisc format with a specification that the creators of DVDplus claim is in violation of its essential patent
Essential patent
An essential patent is a patent which discloses and claims one or more inventions that are required to practice a given industry standard. Standardisation bodies, therefore, often require members disclose and grant licenses to patents and pending patent applications that they own and that cover a...
s (but see below for the actual patent status of DVDPlus).
According to the DVDPlus website, in December 2004, Sony DADC
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
signed a global license
License
The verb license or grant licence means to give permission. The noun license or licence refers to that permission as well as to the document recording that permission.A license may be granted by a party to another party as an element of an agreement...
agreement http://www.dvdplusint.com/news/index.php with DVDplus International, the makers of DVDplus.
To circumvent legal wrangles, manufacturers releasing DualDiscs in Europe have generally, so far, paid a licence fee to Dierks, even though the discs they are releasing are actually DualDiscs and not DVDplus discs. This has generally been achieved by using certified DualDisc plants that are also licensed to make DVDplus discs.
It would be erroneous to think of DVDplus as 'the European equivalent of DualDisc'. Some record companies in the USA, notably Ryko, have released DVDplus products, and DualDisc is now a great deal more common in Europe (though not as common as in the USA). They are essentially two similar approaches to the same goal, although the RIAA has pointed out that DualDisc is a music medium, and not a video medium. No such nominal restriction applies to DVDplus.
Although theoretically almost identical, DVDplus discs have so far appeared in practice - despite claims to the contrary - to measure as having slightly thicker CD-compatible layers than DualDiscs (though not sufficiently thick to make them conform to CD Red Book specifications). As a result, DVDplus has been able to claim a higher level of compatibility with CD players than DualDisc (where the thinness of the CD-compatible layer has shown some incompatibilities with a few players). This also meant that there were no limitations to the CD-compatible side's playing time as was the case with early DualDiscs. However, increased overall disc thickness risks an increased likelihood of the disc getting stuck in slot-loading players and autochangers. Despite these factors, return rates for both of the dual-sided disc products as a result of either sticking or non-playability are claimed to be extremely small.
Status of the trademark "DVDPlus"
DVDplus is a trademark of Dieter DierksDieter Dierks
Dieter Dierks is a German record producer mostly known for his collaboration with the rock band Scorpions.- Youth :...
. A search in the trademarks database of the European Union's Office of Harmonisation of the Internal Market (OHIM) reveals that the trademark was registered in 2001.
Patent History of DVDPlus applications
As the table below shows, although the company and Mr. Dierks have been successful in closing licensing agreements with various companies, DVDPlus is not actually subject to much patent protection. The only European patents granted for the DVDPlus concept have either been withdrawn, revoked or allowed to lapse. The only jurisdiction in which patent protection exists is Australia.| Type | Application number | Published as | Status date | Date | European patent register | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP application | EP03750410 | EP1530792 | Withdrawn | 01-03-2008 | https://register.epo.org/espacenet/application?number=EP03750410 | |
| Family member of above | WO2004017316 | Published | ||||
| Family member of above | WO2004017306 | Published | ||||
| Family member of above | AU2003249783 | Published | ||||
| Family member of above | AU2003269866 | Published | ||||
| EP application | EP02776802 | EP1436809 | Granted/Lapsed | 01-05-2008 | https://register.epo.org/espacenet/application?number=EP02776802 | |
| Family member of above | DE10150025 | Published | ||||
| Family member of above | WO03034418 | Published | ||||
| Family member of above | US2004246869 | Published | ||||
| Family member of above | AT343204T | Published | ||||
| Family member of above | ES2275010T | Published | ||||
| EP application | EP99121839 | EP1006513 | Withdrawn | 03-06-2008 | https://register.epo.org/espacenet/application?number=EP99121839 | |
| Family member of above | DE19950707 | Published | ||||
| Family member of above | US2004196778 | Published/Abandoned | ||||
| EP application | EP98907662 | EP0914653 | Granted/Revoked | 26-01-2009 | https://register.epo.org/espacenet/application?number=EP98907662 | |
| Family member of above | WO9838637 | Published | ||||
| Family member of above | AU6341598 | Published | ||||
| Family member of above | JP2000509879T | Published | ||||
| Family member of above | AU729812B | Accepted | 02-08-2001 | |||
| Family member of above | DE29824505U | Published | ||||
| Family member of above | AT269576T | Published | ||||
| Family member of above | PT914653E | Published | ||||
| Family member of above | ES2223124T | Published | ||||
| Family member of above | DE69824521T | Published |