DDD.L Regulatory News (DDD)

15 Aug 2006 09:00

DDD Group PLC15 August 2006 DDD AWARDED KEY JAPAN PATENT COVERING 2D TO 3D CONVERSION Santa Monica, Calif. (August 15th, 2006) 3/4 DDD Group plc (AIM: DDD), the 3Dsoftware and content company, today announces that it has received notificationof allowance from the Japan patent office of its key "Dynamic Depth Cueing" ("DDC") technology. DDC is a core DDD technology that enables existing photo, film or video images to be converted for display in stereo 3D. The new Japanese patent extends DDD's coverage of technologies that allow theconversion of existing 2D content libraries to 3D and their delivery in a formatthat remains compatible with today's 2D screens. The DDC patents enable a widerange of mass-market 3D applications for viewing on 3D 'without glasses' displayscreens. DDC regenerates 3D information that is not recorded when a conventional film orvideo camera is used. Once the 3D information is recreated, it is then used tomanipulate the underlying 2D image, allowing 2D images to be transformed to 3Dfor a wide variety of 3D display formats ranging from 3D digital cinema to thelatest generation of mobile telephone 3D displays. Dr. Julien Flack, Chief Technology Officer of DDD commented, "The approval ofDDD's key 2D to 3D conversion and transmission patent in Japan is an importantaddition to our growing international patent library. DDD already hassignificant partnerships with Japan-based companies including Sharp Corporationand Arisawa Manufacturing Company for whom a partner with a patent protected 3Dcontent solution is important." Enquiries: DDD GroupChris Yewdall, President & CEO +1 310 566-3340e-mail: info@ddd.com Bell Pottinger Corporate & FinancialNick Lambert +44 (0) 20 7861-3232 Notes to Editors About DDD DDD, also known as Dynamic Digital Depth, is transforming the viewing experiencewith software applications for glasses-free and glasses-based 3D displays. Itspatented technologies enable 3D viewing without glasses; simple integration ofcomputer graphics applications with 3D displays; supply of 3D content through 2Dto 3D conversion; and 3D content transmission over existing networks. DDD isquoted on the London Stock Exchange's Alternative Investment Market (AIM: DDD). • A new category of flat screen LCD and plasma displays are being developed and marketed by major consumer electronics companies that provide stereoscopic 3D images without the need for the viewer to wear glasses. Stereoscopic 3D images appear to have natural in and off-screen depth. 3D displays have already been included in mobile phones in Japan and in desktop PC displays and notebook computers in North America and Japan. • DDD's solutions provide an important bridge between conventional two-dimensional (2D) content and the new 3D displays. Normal 2D pictures, video and computer graphics images are manipulated by DDD's patented software enabling them to be displayed on 3D displays without requiring the content to be created specially for a 3D display. DDD's solutions also enable automatic conversion of virtually any media from 2D to 3D without any pre-processing of the 2D image. • DDD licenses these software applications, marketed under the TriDef(R) and DDD MobileTM brand names, to consumer electronics manufacturers for inclusion with the 3D display products supplied to their end users. DDD also licenses its software directly to end users who already own 3D displays and through an international sales channel. • In July 2005, DDD entered into a two-year, non-exclusive, software licensing agreement and a development agreement with one of the world's top five mobile phone manufacturers for a second-generation, glasses-free 3D mobile phone for DDD Mobile. The licensing arrangements are expected to yield per unit royalties once the licensee launches their 3D handset. • In July 2005, DDD entered into a memorandum of understanding with Jamster! for the 2D to 3D conversion of images and animations from Jamster!'s mobile content library using DDD's offline content conversion process for subsequent download by 3D mobile phone owners. • DDD intends to enter into revenue sharing agreements with mobile phone network operators (carriers) and content providers for the conversion and delivery of existing libraries of premium wallpaper, animations and movies to wireless subscribers who download 3D content that has been converted from 2D to 3D by DDD. • In September 2004, DDD entered into a hardware development agreement with Arisawa for the TriDef Vision+ 3D set top box. DDD's set top box, combined with Arisawa's polarising materials applied to a large LCD television, allows for the real-time conversion of virtually any media from 2D to 3D for viewing on the switchable 2D/3D television. DDD and Arisawa intend to license this solution to global television manufacturers. • In September 2003, DDD entered into a multi-year, non-exclusive software licensing agreement with Sharp which allows them to include five of DDD's 3D software applications with their Actius range of switchable 2D/3D notebook PCs sold in Japan and North America. • DDD is currently investigating IP licensing opportunities in the digital cinema market. More information is available at www.DDD.com. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange