Blu-ray launch delayed by DRM issues?

[Bob Crabtree]

Following news of Toshiba delaying its launch of HD-DVD because of problems with the AACS digital rights management system comes a report from Digital World Tokyo that issues with AACS may also force Panasonic to put off the planned January introduction of its competing Blu-ray ATAPI drive for PCs.

Pioneer plans to unveil at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) its first Blu-ray Disc format optical disc drive for personal computers, it said this week. The drive will go on sale in Japan at the end of January pending the completion of two licensing issues, the company said.

Pioneer's drive is the first announcement of a shipping date from any optical disc drive maker although its January schedule may be derailed by a delay in licensing of the content management system or Blu-ray Disc logo, it said.

The inability of the companies behind the AACS (Advanced Access Content System) content management system to complete their work has already caused Toshiba to put launch plans for its HD DVD player on hold. AACS is made up of a number of companies from the electronics and content industries. The group's founders include IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Panasonic, Sony, Toshiba, Disney and Warner Bros.

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