Microsoft and LG Strike a Patent Sharing Deal

[HDTV1080P]

Just like Samsung has made business agreements with Microsoft and is coming out with a combo player this fall, LG has also made a recent business deal with Microsoft. Must likely some time in the future we will see LG announce a true combo BLU-RAY-HD-DVD player that is a fully functional HD-DVD with interactive features. Looks like there is going to be a domino effect and more combo players might be coming unless Universal Studios releases in BLU-RAY.


Microsoft and LG Strike a Patent Sharing Deal
http://www.wirelessweek.com/article.aspx?id=148878



SAMSUNG Electronics to Release Duo Hd Player

http://www.samsung.com/PressCenter/PressRelease/PressRelease.asp?seq=20070413_0000338109

SAMSUNG and Microsoft Announce Broad Patent Agreement
Agreement covers hardware and software products, including Linux, and is expected to accelerate product development for both companies

http://www.samsung.com/PressCenter/PressRelease/PressRelease.asp?seq=20070419_0000339316

[HDTV1080P]

quote
"Analysts speculate that this deal could positively affect LG's patent negotiations with other technology companies, possibly also begin a spate of new patent violation lawsuits."

[jermwhl]

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

Just like Samsung has made business agreements with Microsoft and is coming out with a combo player this fall, LG has also made a recent business deal with Microsoft. Must likely some time in the future we will see LG announce a true combo BLU-RAY-HD-DVD player that is a fully functional HD-DVD with interactive features. Looks like there is going to be a domino effect and more combo players might be coming unless Universal Studios releases in BLU-RAY.


Microsoft and LG Strike a Patent Sharing Deal
http://www.wirelessweek.com/article.aspx?id=148878



SAMSUNG Electronics to Release Duo Hd Player

http://www.samsung.com/PressCenter/PressRelease/PressRelease.asp?seq=20070413_0000338109

SAMSUNG and Microsoft Announce Broad Patent Agreement
Agreement covers hardware and software products, including Linux, and is expected to accelerate product development for both companies

http://www.samsung.com/PressCenter/PressRelease/PressRelease.asp?seq=20070419_0000339316

to be honest, IMO if universal went neutral, the martket would flood with combo players. I may be wrong.....i have been a FEW times....but that's what I think would initially happen.

[HDTV1080P]

The only reason to own a combo player is to play exclusive Universal Studios movies in HD-DVD format. If Universal Studios released movies in BLU-RAY format then the BLU-RAY camp would have 100% studio support and no need to own a combo player.

[dipset420]

every time i hear news like this it makes me not want to buy into the format yet. if you say your exclusive to blu-ray then ONLY make blu-ray players, dont start making combo ones.
and you know if this keeps up and every company that makes blu-ray players will start making combo's, and then movie studios exclusive to blu-ray will most likely go neutral and blu-ray will be over with because microsoft will buy out anyone and everyone if they have to

[MatrixS2000]

Originally Posted by dipset420

movie studios exclusive to blu-ray will most likely go neutral

^ so you think that all the blu ray exclusive studios would go neutral before a single HD DVD exclusive studio went neutral - even though it's (Universal's) market share is smaller and shrinking????

[blitz6speed]

If you notice, its just the Korean companys making combo players. The japanese companys are honorable and stick to their guns.

[HDTV1080P]

Originally Posted by jermwhl

to be honest, IMO if universal went neutral, the martket would flood with combo players. I may be wrong.....i have been a FEW times....but that's what I think would initially happen.

If the BLU-RAY disc association could some how convince Universal Studios to go neutral and release in BLU-RAY then most likely Samsung and LG would cancel their combo player plans. If Universal Studios went BLU-RAY it would be economically unwise to make a combo player because there would be no demand for the product if BLU-RAY had 100% studio support.

[HDTV1080P]

I just thought I would pass this information along; I am not sure how accurate it is. I have heard that the cross licensing deal between Samsung and Microsoft has a requirement in the agreement that Samsung must sell a HD-DVD or Universal player that plays both HD-DVD and BLU-RAY discs. From what I have heard LG most likely signed the same agreement.