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Sonic Solutions® (NASDAQ: SNIC), the leader in digital media software, today announced that its Professional Products Group will focus its research and development resources on the creation of new applications for cutting-edge authoring of Blu-ray Disc titles that encompass the interactive and connected-content capabilities of BD-Live. The group will also increase resource allocation on developing its encoding and title creation applications that streamline the process of preparing video entertainment for digital distribution. In order to address these emerging market opportunities and optimize investment return, the Professional Products Group will conclude sales of its Scenarist® HD DVD authoring product line.

“Extending Sonic’s long history of commitment and support for the professional sector, we are aligning our professional product portfolio to address the evolving needs of our high-end customers,” said Dave Habiger, president and CEO, Sonic Solutions. “Our Professional Products Group plays a significant role in supporting the development of high-definition formats, including the contribution of core IP to HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc joint portfolio licenses. Going forward, the group will direct its considerable format expertise on helping our professional customers fulfill the richly interactive promise of Blu-ray Disc including BD-Live, and aligning with a broader company strategy to enable the secure and efficient digital-distribution of video entertainment.”

Part of Sonic’s industry-leading professional authoring solutions, Scenarist provides the specification-level control required to author BD titles of uncompromising interactivity and compatibility. In 2008, an expanded feature set will simplify the creation of highly interactive BD components, such as enabling BD-Live, which enhances on-disc content in broadband-connected players. To streamline the creation of BD-Live, Sonic will build upon its pioneering InterActual® technologies, which today enable millions of movie enthusiasts to benefit from a similar ‘connected content’ experience when viewing DVDs on a PC.

“Our professional authoring customers are actively engaged with expanding their services in advanced interactive and online content creation. With a focus on Blu-ray Disc, we’re able to meet this demand with new technologies and applications that leverage the growing-capabilities of the robust BD format to deliver dynamic entertainment experiences that consumers not only want, but have also come to expect from today’s connected-content platforms,” said Rolf Hartley, senior vice president and general manager of Sonic's Professional Products Group. “Commensurate with this focus, we’re building our solutions in support of video delivery beyond professional packaged media and assisting in the enhancement of emerging platforms that provide consumers convenient, flexible access to high-quality entertainment.”

To further enable the authoring community, Sonic will offer its Scenarist HD DVD customers a special promotion to exchange their authoring system(s) for a Scenarist BD system. Sonic’s Professional Products Group will maintain its high-end support services as part of its SonicCare™ program for HD DVD customers who elect not to participate in the special promotion program and will provide software update releases where appropriate in keeping with its standard practice.

www.sonic.com

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HP and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Announce Manufactured-on-Demand Content Licensing Agreement

HP and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) today announced that SPHE will license select catalog titles from its vast home video library for production and distribution via HP’s DVD manufactured-on-demand service. This agreement makes Sony the first major Hollywood studio to present its home video titles using HP’s service.

“HP’s manufactured-on-demand service provides us with a viable means of delivering a broader range of niche and library product to consumers,” said David Bishop, president, SPHE. “We know there is strong consumer demand for these titles, and by working with HP we can monetize our deep product library and help give retailers the means to bring a wider offering of Sony Pictures product to consumers without a significant investment in inventory.”

The list and availability of SPHE titles to be licensed through this agreement has yet to be finalized.

HP’s manufactured-on-demand service is used to produce a DVD of any movie, TV show or other video content, regardless of niche or obscurity. Content currently being targeted for release includes the following:

Classic and older TV shows never before released on DVD
Foreign movies
Productions for specialty genres such as religion, education, lifestyle, health, food and sports
Specialty cable TV programming
Independent movies
Recently broadcast TV shows and sporting events with high relevancy in specific geographic markets or within specific consumer segments.

For studios and video merchants, the HP service can eliminate the challenges of matching supply and demand on catalog and specialty titles and also reduce inventory, packaging and return costs.

The service is a component of HP Digital Content Services, which helps retailers fulfill the requests of customers wanting video content in various forms, including digital downloads, traditional packaged DVDs and emerging video formats such as HD DVD and Blu-ray discs.

“HP’s agreement with Sony signals a significant move in the entertainment industry,” said Willem de Zoete, vice president and general manager, Digital Content Services, HP. “Together, we’re offering customers a greater selection of content, bridging the gap between the amount of content that is created and that which actually is published and available for consumption.”

www.sonypictures.com/bluray

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Vinpower Digital announces Industry's First Complete LightScribe Standalone DVD and CD Publishing System

Vinpower Digital announced today the release of SharkCopier LS standalone manual tower DVD/CD publishing systems. In a collaborative effort between Vinpower Digital and LightScribe, the new SharkCopier LS models offer an array of improved features, most notably the ability to inscribe text or full graphic labels directly onto CDs and DVDs without being connected to a computer.

The SharkCopier LS can be used as a publishing system by first creating the disc image art on a computer, then loading the image onto the standalone duplicator for disc label duplication. LightScribe offers a free LightScribe Template Labeler at www.lightscribe.com that supports a fast creative process and a robust suite of label template options. The duplicator can be used anywhere there is a suitable electrical outlet without being tied to a computer with these simple steps:

1) Load the LightScribe capable CDs or DVDs into the drives and put the label side face down to print
2) The duplicator will laser-inscribe the programmed image onto the discs
3) Flip the disc over in the same drive onto the data duplicating side
4) The duplicator will copy the selected data
5) The duplicated discs will now have a label design and the specified data content

The LightScribe labeling process offers the ability to print and burn in one standalone system, no longer tying the user to a PC or limiting them to a mere 2 or 4 drive maximum capacity. The SharkCopier LS is available in various sizes and prints all discs simultaneously from 1-to-1 up to 1-to-15 to fit the needs of even the most demanding duplication job.

"The SharkCopier LS eliminates the concerns of running out of ink or thermal ribbon commonly found in printer based publishing systems, which can be time consuming and costly," proclaims Ryan Swerdloff, VP of Marketing at Vinpower Digital.

"VinPower has capitalized on LightScribe’s unique embedded in-drive characteristic to launch an entirely new category of publishing systems", said Kent Henscheid, LightScribe Marketing Manager. "Without a connected PC, tower duplicator users were previously limited to only copying data from a master disc. Now SharkCopier LS tower users can copy data and complement them with a professional quality label".

In addition to the data and label duplication features, all SharkCopier models offer dynamic hard drive partitions and the new Simultaneous Load & Copy feature. They still offer exceptional duplication capability at lightning fast speed along with market leading features for which the SharkCopier has been known, like Account Management, Auto Counter, Multi-language support, Drive firmware upgrade ability, and so much more that helped make the SharkCopier the preferred duplicator.

www.vinpowerdigital.com

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Xlnt Idea, Inc Announces Network-Attached Nexis 100PC Publisher with embedded PC

XLNT Idea Inc., a leading US Based Manufacturer of DVD and CD Printing and Publishing Systems, announced the release of its Nexis 100PC system, a direct network attach DVD / CD automated publishing solution with an Embedded Processor, Hard Disk Drive and One Gig of RAM. Featuring a low profile PICO integrated PC with a GIG E Network Interface, the new Nexis 100PC provides the most economically priced " turn key " automated robotic DVD / CD creation system available today. XLNT Idea’s Disc Direct™ and Disc Studio™ software applications are preloaded on the embedded 60 GB HDD, allowing users to simply integrate a monitor, keyboard and mouse to begin disc publishing in standalone mode. Priced at an MSRP of $ 2695.00, the Nexis 100PC will be available from an XLNT Idea authorized VAR or Dealer Partner.

Dale K., VP of Engineering noted " Nexis 100PC is designed with a unique internal configuration that allows us to maintain the original footprint of the Nexis 100DVD PC attach system, while dramatically increasing functionality. Users can either integrate it directly onto a network using third party or soon to be released XLNT network software, or install a monitor, keyboard and mouse and use as a standalone solution, or both. The 1 GHZ PICO processor combined with a Gig of RAM and 60 GB HDD provides more than enough support for a wide variety of applications."

Chuck Alcon Jr, Director of Sales and Marketing added," Our Design and Engineering Team continues to create new DVD / CD solutions for emerging markets that include Medical Imaging, On Demand Content Creation / Kiosk, Office Appliance, and even Storage, Back up and Archival, and more. We remain well positioned to provide our channel partners with the right system for virtually any customer requirement or environment. "

www.xlntidea.com

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North Coast Interactive, Inc. Introduces UltraPrint-D Diamond Everest Printable Media

North Coast Interactive is proud to announce the immediate availability of UltraPrint-D™ Diamond Everest Printable Media. UltraPrint-D™ media is the latest addition to NCI's industry leading line of Everest Printable Media products. The unique feature of the “D” series of CD-R media is the Diamond or “TrueSilver” data side. This is achieved through a specially processed dye layer which removes the greenish tint found in typical CD-R media. The end result is a disc which more closely resembles mass replicated or “glass mastered” discs.

“We are currently the only manufacturer offering Everest Printable Diamond or 'True Silver' discs.” explains Thomas Blaha, President of North Coast Interactive, Inc. “These discs are intended to meet the needs of the short run music industry, or others who value the look of glass mastered discs. Using our media in an Everest printer allows them to have a disc which rivals the appearance of a glass mastered offset press printed disc in much smaller quantities and shorter turnaround times.”

Like all NCI Everest Printable media, UltraPrint-D™ features a proprietary printable coating which is applied in the USA. This coating is engineered specifically for the thermal re-transfer printing process used in Everest Printers which results in optimal adherence of very sharp, highly detailed prints to the surface of the disc. UltraPrint-D™ media is guaranteed to print properly from edge to edge, with perfect image edge retention. All UltraPrint™ media is also duplication grade A with very low error rates, making them ideal for all applications including music and data. Finally, this media has very flat outside and inside edges which interface with the Everest robotic grippers. This results in fewer misfeeds and maximizes printer uptime and printer throughput.

UltraPrint-D™ Diamond Everest Printable media is available immediately in 700 MB (80 min) 52X CD-R hub printable white and hub printable silver formats from the NCI online store. General information on UltraPrint-D™ Diamond Everest Printable media and all the other UltraPrint™ discs can also be found at www.ncimedia.com.

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DVD6C Announces New Licensing Program

The DVD6C Licensing Group (DVD6C) consisting of nine leading developers of DVD technology and formats — Hitachi, Ltd., Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (Panasonic), Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Sharp Corporation, Toshiba Corporation, Victor Company of Japan, Ltd. (JVC) and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Inc. — today announced that it has revised its worldwide patent licensing program beginning on and after January 1, 2008, including offering a new license agreement (the “New DVD6C License”), which offers reduced royalty rates on certain products and additional licensing options.

Key changes to the new licensing program include the following:

Reduction of royalty rates for DVD Read-Only Discs (i.e., the DVD-Video Disc, DVD-Audio Disc and DVD-ROM Disc) from US$0.045/Disc to US$0.040/Disc for sales of DVD Read-Only Discs beginning on or after the Effective Date of the New DVD6C License.]
The addition of +R Discs and +RW Discs as new categories of licensed DVD Products. The royalty rates for +R Discs shall be the same as the current royalty rates for DVD-R Discs, and the royalty rates for +RW Discs shall be the same as the current royalty rates for DVD-RW Discs.
Inclusion of Time Limited DVD Discs in the DVD-ROM Disc, DVD-Video Disc and DVD-Audio Disc categories of licensed DVD Products.

Interested parties will remain free to negotiate individual license agreements with DVD6C’s member companies, rather than taking out a single portfolio license or license for a category of products. The member companies have committed to provide such licenses under fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms and conditions.

For further information regarding the DVD6C licensing program, please visit the 6C website.

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DatCard Files Patent Infringement Suit Against Codonics Virtua and Virtua XR Medical Disc Publishers

\DatCard Systems, Inc., a leading global supplier of DICOM digital distribution systems, announced today that it has filed suit in federal court to prevent Codonics, Inc. from infringing its newly awarded patent, U.S. Patent No. 7,302,164. DatCard’s patent is directed to systems that distribute and record DICOM medical image data onto CDs or DVDs that can be read without specialized viewing software. This key technology facilitates the worldwide sharing of critical medical information with health care providers and patients, enhancing the quality of patient care, while saving costs for health care providers.

DatCard includes its patented invention in its innovative PacsCube and SmartLine products. The lawsuit alleges that Codonics has unlawfully included DatCard’s patented invention in its Virtua and Virtua XR products, without DatCard’s permission.

“Our PacsCube and SmartLine products, and the patented technology that they use, are the heart of our business,” said Andrew Rosenzweig, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for DatCard Systems. “We are not willing to stand by and watch our competitors use our most valuable asset and undermine us in the marketplace.”

In the lawsuit, DatCard is seeking an injunction, damages for past infringement, and an award of attorneys’ fees against Codonics.

www.datcard.com

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