DVB-S2 Intellectual Property Rights Holders Announce Favorable Licensing Terms Under Joint Licensing ProgramThe DIRECTV Group, the European Space Agency (ESA) and RAI (Radiotelevisione Italiana) Cooperate to Provide Not-to-Exceed Pricing as Cornerstone of Comprehensive Patent License Offering
EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 15, 2006--The DIRECTV Group, RAI and ESA, the holders of key DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting)-S2 intellectual property rights, announced today the fundamental terms of a comprehensive licensing offering under their combined patent rights for DVB-S2 standardized technology.
The offering will set limits on cumulative royalties paid for the licensing of intellectual property rights in order to speed adoption of the DVB-S2 standard. DVB-S2 is the second generation DVB system for broadband satellite communications, covering digital TV and HDTV broadcasting, interactive services, and professional links by satellite.
The three rights holders will jointly offer a license under their combined portfolios of intellectual property rights necessary for the implementation of DVB-S2. For consumer applications, such as satellite television set-top box receivers, a license under the combined portfolios will not exceed $0.50 per product in quantities exceeding 500,000 over the term of the license and not to exceed $1.00 per product in lower quantities. Licenses for consumer applications will be granted for five-year terms. Renewals will be granted on fair and reasonable terms based on then-current market conditions.
Free-to-air and pay-TV broadcasters will not be required to pay a separate service license fee to broadcast to licensed receivers. The per product royalties and the arrangements for broadcasters are geared to help launch DVB-S2 technology and follow the commitment of the rights holders to offer licenses on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms.
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EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 15, 2006--The DIRECTV Group, RAI and ESA, the holders of key DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting)-S2 intellectual property rights, announced today the fundamental terms of a comprehensive licensing offering under their combined patent rights for DVB-S2 standardized technology.
The offering will set limits on cumulative royalties paid for the licensing of intellectual property rights in order to speed adoption of the DVB-S2 standard. DVB-S2 is the second generation DVB system for broadband satellite communications, covering digital TV and HDTV broadcasting, interactive services, and professional links by satellite.
The three rights holders will jointly offer a license under their combined portfolios of intellectual property rights necessary for the implementation of DVB-S2. For consumer applications, such as satellite television set-top box receivers, a license under the combined portfolios will not exceed $0.50 per product in quantities exceeding 500,000 over the term of the license and not to exceed $1.00 per product in lower quantities. Licenses for consumer applications will be granted for five-year terms. Renewals will be granted on fair and reasonable terms based on then-current market conditions.
Free-to-air and pay-TV broadcasters will not be required to pay a separate service license fee to broadcast to licensed receivers. The per product royalties and the arrangements for broadcasters are geared to help launch DVB-S2 technology and follow the commitment of the rights holders to offer licenses on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms.
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