Pressemeldung

SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES unterzeichnet Vertrag mit 3DCD für die weltweite Lieferung von Produktionslinien für Hologramm CD-ROM
SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES, der weltweit führende Hersteller von CD- und DVD Replikationslinien, bestätigt heute, dass ein 3-jähriger Produktions- und Technologievertrag mit 3DCD abgeschlossen wurde. 3DCD ist ein Joint Venture zwischen TECHNICOLOR und APPLIED HOLOGRAPHICS Plc. 3DCD besitzt die Patente für sogenannte "Vollflächen Hologramme auf CDs". Diese Technologie ist die meistversprechendste Technik für Antipiraterie-Maßnahmen bei Compact Discs. Das Hologramm bedeckt dabei die ganze Disc-Oberfläche ohne die Kapazität oder den Inhalt zu beeinträchtigen.

Die Möglichkeit, Software vor illegalen Raubkopien zu schützen, ist dabei nicht nur für MICROSOFT und andere Software-Hersteller wichtig, sondern bietet dem Konsumenten auch die Sicherheit, Originalprogramme mit Lizenzen zu erwerben.

Als Teil des Vertrages zwischen SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES und 3DCD wird SINGULUS exklusiv weltweit an alle Produktionsstandorte von TECHNICOLOR Maschinen für die Herstellung von "Vollflächen-Hologrammen" auf optischen Discs liefern. SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES wird darüber hinaus Maschinen an europäische, amerikanische und asiatische Hersteller liefern, die von MICROSOFT im Rahmen des Programmes zur Verhinderung von Piraterie durch die Hologramm-Technologie lizensiert wurden.

Dieser Kooperationsvertrag hat bereits im Geschäftsjahr 1999 zu zusätzlichem Umsatz geführt, der insgesamt die Marke von 300 Mio. DM sicher übersteigen wird.

Technicolor Press Release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TUESDAY, 30TH NOVEMBER 1999

TECHNICOLOR SIGNS KEY CONTRACT WITH MICROSOFT

Technicolor To Manufacture Millions Of Discs with Proprietary Edge-To-Edge Holographic Anti-Piracy Technology

Technicolor, the world's leading visual packaged media company and largest independent CD and DVD replicator, announced today that it has entered into a three-year manufacturing and technology contract with Microsoft Corporation to replicate millions of discs, beginning with Windows 2000 product.

Technicolor, a wholly owned subsidiary of Carlton Communications Plc, will be Microsoft's leading supplier of tens of millions of discs per year beginning with the launch of Windows 2000 on CD-ROM in mid-November 1999. To accommodate production, the company is increasing its worldwide replication capacity by 30 million units per year with the addition of 8 new manufacturing lines. All told, Technicolor, one of Microsoft's five suppliers, will have a global capacity to produce more than 325 million discs annually.

Lanny Raimondo, Chief Executive of the Technicolor Group, said: "This represents a major step forward in Technicolor's ongoing relationship with Microsoft. Working with the world's most successful software provider is a tremendous opportunity. We will be providing a full service from anti-piracy technology through to manufacturing and distribution. For the first time, Technicolor will also be earning significant licensing income from the technology we have developed with Applied Holographics."

As part of the agreement, Technicolor will be using its proprietary edge-to-edge holographic technology, which is considered to be one of the premier anti-piracy measures currently available. The technology, which has been developed by 3DCD, a joint venture between Technicolor and Applied Holographics Plc., enables a hologram image to be placed on the full surface of the disc without affecting the capacity or integrity of the content. Earlier Microsoft products have featured the licensed use of 3DCD's proprietary inner mirror band hologram with tremendous success. Both technologies provide consumers with the ability to clearly identify the discs as legitimate Microsoft product.

Joachim Kempin, senior vice president with Microsoft said: "The ability to protect our software products from counterfeiting is vitally important to Microsoft, and to consumers, and Technicolor continues to provide the industry's most advanced anti-piracy measures. Technicolor's inner mirror band hologram proved to be a significant piracy deterrent for our previous product releases, so moving to the more advanced edge-to-edge technology is a natural step for us."

All of Technicolor's worldwide facilities will be equipped with the ability to apply the edge-to-edge technology to discs. Additionally, a select group of manufacturers is also being licensed to use the edge-to-edge technology as part of the agreement between Technicolor, 3DCD and Microsoft.