imported>Areux: Added that the lead is too short. It appears to explain the topic in a simple manner but could be explained further.

2025-11-19T14:27:39Z

Added that the lead is too short. It appears to explain the topic in a simple manner but could be explained further.

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{{short description|Industry association that developed the DVD format}}
{{distinguish|text=the [[DVD+RW Alliance]]}}
{{more citations needed|date=August 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2019}}
{{Lead too short|date=November 2025}}

{{Infobox company
| name = DVD Forum
| former_name = DVD Consortium (1995–1996)
| foundation = {{start date and age|1995}} (as DVD Consortium)<br>{{start date and age|1996}} (as DVD Forum)
| defunct = {{end date and age|2025|1|31}}
| fate = Dissolved
| website = {{web archive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230329230814/http://dvdforum.org/forum.shtml|title=dvdforum.org}}
}}
The '''DVD Forum''' (initially '''DVD Consortium''') was an [[industry consortium]] for [[DVD]] specifications from 1995 to 2025.<ref>{{cite web |title=DVD Forum's Mission |url=http://www.dvdforum.org/about-mission.htm |access-date=7 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241128004023/http://www.dvdforum.org/about-mission.htm |archive-date=28 November 2024 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==History==
The founding companies were [[Hitachi]], [[Panasonic]], [[Mitsubishi Electric|Mitsubishi]], [[Pioneer Corporation|Pioneer]], [[Philips]], [[Sony]], [[Technicolor SA|Thomson]], [[Warner Bros. Discovery|Warner Bros]], [[Toshiba]], [[JVC]], [[NBCUniversal]] and [[The Walt Disney Company]].{{Cn|date=May 2025}}

The DVD Forum was created to facilitate the exchange of information and ideas about the DVD format, another evolution of the [[LaserDisc]] format, and to enable it to grow through technical improvement and innovation. The organization hoped to promote worldwide acceptance of DVD for [[entertainment]], [[consumer electronics]] and [[information technology]] applications. Membership in the DVD Forum was open to any company or organization involved in DVD research, development, or manufacturing; software firms and other DVD users interested in developing the format were also encouraged to join. Forum members could support other formats in addition to DVD.{{citation needed|date=August 2012}}

The DVD Forum was responsible for the official DVD format specification. The group handled licensing of the DVD format and logo through the DVD Format and Logo Licensing Corporation (DVD FLLC), which also published the official "DVD Book" format specifications.<ref name="dvd-fllc">DVD FLLC [http://www.dvdfllc.co.jp/about/about.html About DVD Format/Logo Licensing Corporation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090518141956/http://www.dvdfllc.co.jp/about/about.html |date=18 May 2009 }}, Retrieved on 2009-07-24</ref> Reference materials and newsletters were published for DVD Forum members.{{citation needed|date=August 2012}}

In 2003, the DVD Forum had 213 members.<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=DVD Forum Member List |url=http://www.dvdforum.org/about-memberlist.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030201223238/http://www.dvdforum.org/about-memberlist.htm |archive-date=1 February 2003 |access-date=2024-02-10 |website=www.dvdforum.org }}</ref> In 2007, it had 195 registered members.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdforum.org/about-memberlist.htm|title=DVD Forum Member List|accessdate=2007-10-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140920234007/http://www.dvdforum.org/about-memberlist.htm|archive-date=20 September 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2008, it had 159 registered members,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdforum.org/about-memberlist.htm|title=DVD Forum Member List|accessdate=2008-11-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140920234007/http://www.dvdforum.org/about-memberlist.htm|archive-date=20 September 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> and in 2010, it had 98 registered members.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdforum.org/about-memberlist.htm|title=DVD Forum Member List|accessdate=2010-07-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140920234007/http://www.dvdforum.org/about-memberlist.htm|archive-date=20 September 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2012 this downward trend continued with the membership standing at 80 members.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdforum.org/about-memberlist.htm|title=DVD Forum Member List|accessdate=2012-05-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140920234007/http://www.dvdforum.org/about-memberlist.htm|archive-date=20 September 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> From 1 April 2012, the Forum operated in a "Reduced Activity Mode";<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dvdforum.org/54scmtg-resolution.htm|title=54th Steering Committee Meeting (Nov. 2, 2011)|website=www.dvdforum.org|access-date=27 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180112160831/http://www.dvdforum.org/54scmtg-resolution.htm|archive-date=12 January 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> however, the DVD FLLC was still active in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dvdfllc.co.jp/license/l_pro.html#agree|title=DVD FLLC - License|website=www.dvdfllc.co.jp|access-date=12 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190825082631/http://www.dvdfllc.co.jp/license/l_pro.html#agree|archive-date=25 August 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> In October 2024, the DVD FLLC announced the deactivation of its website and confirmed that they were "preparing the scheme that enables any Licensees to manufacture DVD products without 'License' on and after January 1, 2025."

In January 2025, the DVD FLLC announced its own dissolution on January 31, 2025 (together with the DVD Forum itself, according to its charter)<ref>{{cite web |title=THE DVD FORUM CHARTER |url=http://www.dvdforum.org/images/DVD_Forum_Revised_Charter_final_120227c.pdf |access-date=7 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241128000038/http://www.dvdforum.org/images/DVD_Forum_Revised_Charter_final_120227c.pdf |archive-date=28 November 2024 |format=pdf}}</ref> and the deposit of the DVD Specifications at the [[National Diet Library]] of Japan.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fukuoka |first1=Noriko |title=Importance Notice from DVD FLLC |url=https://www.dvdfllc.co.jp/notice.html#january |publisher=DVD FLLC |access-date=29 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250315192952/https://www.dvdfllc.co.jp/notice.html#january |archive-date=15 March 2025 |date=January 1, 2025}}</ref>

As of August 2025, the specification documents are only available at the National Diet Library in Tokyo.<ref>{{cite web |title=Physical specifications Version 1.05 (DVD specifications for read-only disc; part 1) |url=https://ndlsearch.ndl.go.jp/en/books/R100000002-I033893139 |access-date=2 August 2025}}</ref>

==Related standards==

Competing standards developed by the rival [[DVD+RW Alliance]] are for the "plus" formats ([[DVD+R]], [[DVD+RW]]). Alliance leaders [[Philips]], [[Sony]] and Thomson were also founding members of the DVD Forum, established in 1997. {{as of|2009}}, both plus and dash formats seem equally popular with customers, and both are compatible with the vast majority of DVD players.

== See also ==

* [[DVD Copy Control Association]]
* [[DVD+RW Alliance]]
* [[Blu-ray Disc Association]]
* [[High-definition optical disc format war]]

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{web archive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230329230814/http://dvdforum.org/forum.shtml|title=Official website}}

{{DVD}}
{{HD DVD}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dvd Forum}}
[[Category:Technology consortia]]
[[Category:DVD]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1995]]
[[Category:HD DVD]]
[[Category:Organizations disestablished in 2025]]

DVD Forum - Revision history

imported>Areux: Added that the lead is too short. It appears to explain the topic in a simple manner but could be explained further.