Blu-ray Disc, one of the two formats being promoted as a replacement for today's DVDs, picked up support this week from Lions Gate Home Entertainment and Universal Music Group.

Lions Gate said it will release movies, television programs, and other titles on Blu-ray Disc when compatible players are launched in North America. At present such players are expected to be available sometime in 2006 although no manufacturer has announced a more specific launch date.

The system combines Advanced Access Content System (AACS) with "BD+", a system that allows the protection system to be renewed should it be compromised, and "ROM Mark," which is intended to guard against mass production piracy or duplication.

When Blu-ray Disc hardware comes out it is likely to immediately begin competing with HD-DVD-based equipment. HD-DVD, backed by Toshiba, NEC, and the DVD standards group, is expected to first appear in stores before the end of this year but again specific launch dates haven't been disclosed. The amount of hardware or software that will be available at launch is similarly unknown at present.

Blu-ray Disc is backed by a much larger number of companies including some big-name vendors like Sony, Matsushita Electric Industrial (Panasonic), Samsung Electronics, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Apple Computer, and Koninklijke Philips Electronics.

By: DocMemory
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