INTRODUCTION

VC-1 refers to a digital video coding standard (SMPTE 421M-2006) on which certain video decoding and encoding devices used in media players, advanced optical disc players and other products are based. As a convenience to the marketplace, MPEG LA's VC-1 Patent Portfolio License provides fair, reasonable, nondiscriminatory access to essential VC-1 patents owned by many patent holders in a single license as an alternative to negotiating separate licenses.

MPEG LA's VC-1 Patent Portfolio License currently includes patents owned by DAEWOO Electronics Corporation, France Télécom, société anonyme*, Fujitsu Limited, Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V., LG Electronics Inc., Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (Panasonic), Microsoft Corporation, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT), Pantech&Curitel Communications, Inc., Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Sharp Corporation, Siemens AG, Sony Corporation, Telenor ASA, Toshiba Corporation, Victor Company of Japan, Ltd. (JVC).

MPEG LA's goal is to provide worldwide access to as much VC-1 essential intellectual property as possible; new essential patents and new Licensors may be added to the Patent Portfolio License at no additional royalty during the current license term.