Next Generation Content Protection Specification - Advanced Access Content System (AACS) - Made Available for Licensing

Technology, Entertainment and CE Industry Alliance Collaborates to Expedite Consumer Access to Next-Generation High-Definition Digital Entertainment

LOS ANGELES -- Feb. 21, 2006 -- AACS LA founders IBM, Intel Corporation, Microsoft, Panasonic (Matsushita Electric), Sony, Toshiba, The Walt Disney Company, and Warner Bros. Studios today announced the immediate availability of AACS (ADVANCED ACCESS CONTENT SYSTEM) under interim licensing agreements.

The AACS specification accelerates the ability of consumers to enjoy exciting, new, flexible entertainment experiences and storage options, while continuing to provide the traditional, straightforward playback mode, for the next generation of prerecorded and recordable optical media such as Blu-Ray and HD DVD. Additionally, AACS is designed to create unprecedented flexibility, portability and security for entertainment content to be enjoyed on networked home, portable PC or CE devices.

"This technology is the product of unprecedented collaboration between the consumer electronics, IT and entertainment industries to facilitate the next generation of high-definition entertainment," said Michael B. Ayers, AACS LA spokesperson. "We're confident that AACS will immediately enable a host of compelling new digital entertainment experiences for consumers around the globe."

"While next generation HD players are in final assembly, and movies are being mastered, the AACS architects are ensuring consumers can enjoy the HD picture, sound and robust portability potential of AACS without any further delays. Much more than just HD movies, AACS delivers new consumer interactivity, portability and feature enhancement after purchase on a scale like no other consumer digital entertainment system can," said Richard Doherty, Research Director for the Envisioneering Group. "AACS represents a cross-industry team of chip, consumer electronics, PC designers and content creators, all dedicated to enriching the consumer's home and portable entertainment experience."

The final license agreement for AACS is expected to be announced in the coming months. In the meantime, companies in the consumer electronics, IT and entertainment industries are now able to develop devices and solutions based on the published specs and compliance rules.

More information on AACS LA and ADVANCED ACCESS CONTENT SYSTEM can be found on the group's website, http://www.aacsla.com.

About AACS LA

Founded by IBM, Intel Corporation, Microsoft, Panasonic (Matsushita Electric), Sony, Toshiba, The Walt Disney Company and Warner Bros. Studios, the charter of AACS LA is to enhance consumers' entertainment experience offered by the next-generation of media through flexible usage models. AACS LA also offers to content owners the enabling technology they need to confidently release their content. Content owners, service providers and manufacturers alike benefit from the ADVANCED ACCESS CONTENT SYSTEM through ease of implementation and the opportunity to reach and serve a broad cross section of consumers. For more information visit http://www.aacsla.com.