China
has announced that they've developed their own high definition DVD standard. While based on HD DVD, the physical format of the CH-DVD
(China High Definition DVD) includes Chinese-owned intellectual property.
The Optical Memory National Engineering
Research Center (OMNERC), a laboratory dedicated to optical disc research in Tsinghua University, today announced CH-DVD (China High
Definition DVD)(a), a new generation high definition DVD format developed in collaboration with research institutes and manufacturing
enterprises at home and abroad. The physical format of CH-DVD includes Chinese-owned intellectual property, and is based on HD DVD, the
next generation high definition DVD approved by the DVD Forum. The realization of CH-DVD was supported by the Chinese government, and
will pave the way for the localization of blue-laser, high-definition DVD in China.
On Sept. 7, 2007, OMNERC established CHDA --
the China High Definition DVD Industry Association -- in cooperation with the DVD Forum and Chinese and international partners. CHDA will
play a leadership role in the promotion of CH-DVD, and will make a big push to launch CH-DVD player into the Chinese market in 2008.
While the details are sketchy, CH-DVD uses some sort of "advanced copy protection technology" to prevent the spread of
pirated copies. If you'd like to read more, the entire press release can be found here.
