Although Toshiba may be out of the HD DVD game, it’s
certainly not done with being a force in the DVD Forum – the body behind both HD
DVD and regular DVD formats.
At the recent 41st Steering
Committee meeting, the DVD Forum approved Toshiba as the Chair Company serving
from February 2008 to February 2010. Holders of Vice Chair positions are Sony
for the CE Industry, Intel for the IT Industry and Warner from the Content
Industry.
Also approved was the scope of WG-12, which states the
mission: "To study and specify network applications and related network
specification of DVD Forum formats, make recommendations for better
interoperability and functionality of network connected DVD Forum specified
devices and content, and communicate on relevant recommendations with other
standard creation organizations."
Particularly notable was the approval that all CH-DVD format
matters be made the responsibility of the China High Definition DVD Industry
Association (CHDA) and Optical Memory National Engineering Research Center
(OMNERC), though both organizations will report their activities to the DVD
Forum.
While similar to HD DVD in that it uses blue-violet laser
technology, CH-DVD is supported by media authoring methods owned and approved by
the Chinese government. The specific schemes supposedly offer specific measures
against piracy.
The China High Definition DVD Industry Association said last
fall that it will “make a big push to launch CH-DVD player into the Chinese
market in 2008” and “encourage all related industries to... to make the
transition from standard definition DVD to high definition DVD.”