HDMI Fees Reduced

By Greg Tarr -- TWICE, 7/21/2006

Sunnyvale, Calif. — The annual administration fee manufacturers must pay to build high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) ports into consumer electronics products was reduced from $15,000, to $10,000, by HDMI Licensing, the agent responsible for licensing the interface specification.

The fee reduction will apply to HDMI annual fee payments that come due after Nov. 1, and will apply to all HDMI adopters worldwide.

The licensing body hopes the move will encourage greater compliance among global manufacturers of varying sizes, particularly in China, where a majority of the world’s digital CE products are produced.

The agency said the reduction was made possible by HDMI's growing acceptance in the marketplace. More than 400 makers of consumer electronics and PC products worldwide have adopted HDMI, the group said.

The China Video Industry Association (CVIA), a consumer electronics association in China which has encouraged the fee reduction, said it would promote and support the use of HDMI by the consumer electronics industry in China.

“The reduction of the annual fee, which was already minimal, will make it easier for smaller manufacturers to license the HDMI specification and will help ensure that all companies, large or small, can implement cutting-edge HDMI technology into their products,” stated Leslie Chard, HDMI Licensing president.

“By promoting and supporting the use of HDMI by the consumer electronics industry in China, and by helping to secure a global reduction in HDMI annual fees, CVIA has affirmed China's leadership role in the global manufacturing of digital consumer electronics, and HDMI's position as a central part of this industry,” said Hao Yabin, vice secretary-general of the China Video Industry Association.