News Stories

MPEG LA Offers MVC Patent Portfolio License

2.23.2012

[Financial Post]

MPEG LA, LLC today announced the availability of the MVC Patent Portfolio License. The joint license includes patents that are essential to the Multiview Video Coding (“MVC”) standard for encoding and decoding 3D video. The MVC standard is used in Blu-ray Disc® 3D players, recorders, software, PCs, optical discs, 3D video cameras, and 3D playback devices.  …

“MPEG LA is proud to play a role in delivering technology that enables consumers to receive the benefits of 3D video,” said MPEG LA President and CEO Larry Horn. “This license gives renewed testimony to the ability of the MPEG LA® Licensing Model to address real world market demand for access to standard-essential patents owned by multiple parties through a convenient, fair, and efficient one-stop licensing alternative enabling users to focus their resources on developing new competitive products instead of uncertainty and conflict. We applaud these fifteen patent holders for their exemplary cooperation in coming together for the benefit of the marketplace to forge a voluntary market-based solution that benefits MVC consumers.”

Bill Geary, Vice President of Business Development at MPEG LA, will introduce the MVC patent pool license at the Asia-Pacific 3D Standards & IP Forum to be held on February 24 in Seoul, Korea. Mr. Geary said, “We are honored to introduce an efficient patent licensing solution for 3D MVC video and join a multi-national panel of speakers who will address IP and standards development for 3D applications in entertainment, medicine, and education.”  …

See the full story here: http://www.financialpost.com/markets/news/MPEG+Offers+Patent+Portfolio+License/6192150/story.html

Quixel: Large TVs Fuel Q4 Sales Increase

2.23.2012

[Twice]

… Meanwhile, Quixel Research’s “Q4 2011 USA Large Area Display Report (LAD)”, which tracks shipments of televisions measuring 40 inches and larger or all types, showed a 69 percent unit shipment increase in the market segment from Q3 2011 to Q4 2011, and a full-year unit shipment increase of 6 percent from 2010. …

As for front projectors, Quixel reported a 62 percent increase in unit shipments from Q3 2011 to Q4 2011 and a 3 percent increase from the fourth quarter of 2010. …

“3D was a primary driver for the residential projection category, with this feature imbedded in almost 75 percent of the new projectors that shipped in Q4,” stated Pratt. “We did see a premium for the 3D feature, which kept HD 1080p 3D priced above $1,000. However, once consumers step to a projector over $1,500, the 3D feature is really minimum table stakes.”

The 3D price premium kept values higher quarter to quarter, and 3D model revenues were up 105 percent from Q3 2011 to Q4 2011. As expected, the 3D average selling price fell 40 percent due to the new lower-priced 3D products launched in the fourth quarter 2011. 

Overall, the home-theater and entertainment front-projector market posted a healthy 43 percent rise in revenues as the category topped $106 million in sales in Q4 2011, compared with sales of $74 million in Q3 2011. 

The volume increase in both HD 1080p and 3D projectors supported full-year factory revenue growth to $330 million in 2011, compared with $289 million in 2010, or an increase of 14 percent.

Quixel Research’s “Q4 2011 LCDTV Market Review,” “Q4 2011 USA Large Area Display Report (LAD)” and “USA Home Theater and Entertainment Front Projector Market Review for Q4 ’11” are available for purchase by contacting www.quixelresearch.com.

See the full story here: http://www.twice.com/article/480834-Quixel_Large_TVs_Fuel_Q4_Sales_Increase.php

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Specification for Naming VFX Image Sequences Released

ETC’s VFX Working Group has published a specification for best practices naming image sequences such as plates and comps. File naming is an essential tool for organizing the multitude of frames that are inputs and outputs from the VFX process. Prior to the publication of this specification, each organization had its own naming scheme, requiring custom processes for each partner, which often resulted in confusion and miscommunication.

The new ETC@USC specification focuses primarily on sequences of individual images. The initial use case was VFX plates, typically delivered as OpenEXR or DPX files. However, the team soon realized that the same naming conventions can apply to virtually any image sequence. Consequently, the specification was written to handle a wide array of assets and use cases.

To ensure all requirements are represented, the working group included over 2 dozen participants representing studios, VFX houses, tool creators, creatives and others.  The ETC@USC also worked closely with MovieLabs to ensure that the specification could be integrated as part of their 2030 Vision.

A key design criteria for this specification is compatibility with existing practices.  Chair of the VFX working group, Horst Sarubin of Universal Pictures, said: “Our studio is committed to being at the forefront of designing best industry practices to modernize and simplify workflows, and we believe this white paper succeeded in building a new foundation for tools to transfer files in the most efficient manner.”

This specification is compatible with other initiatives such as the Visual Effects Society (VES) Transfer Specifications. “We wanted to make it as seamless as possible for everyone to adopt this specification,” said working group co-chair and ETC@USC’s Erik Weaver. “To ensure all perspectives were represented we created a team of industry experts familiar with the handling of these materials and collaborated with a number of industry groups.”

“Collaboration between MovieLabs and important industry groups like the ETC is critical to implementing the 2030 Vision,” said Craig Seidel, SVP of MovieLabs. “This specification is a key step in defining the foundations for better software-defined workflows. We look forward to continued partnership with the ETC on implementing other critical elements of the 2030 Vision.”

The specification is available online for anyone to use.

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