The DVD Forum has approved the DaTARIUS headquarters as the first European Class-A Verification Laboratory for HD DVD-Video disc and HD DVD-ROM disc. HD DVD drive or media manufacturers can contact the DaTARIUS HD DVD Class-A Lab for technical support regarding the HD DVD format, or to perform the First Production Model Verification required to complete their DVD Format/Logo Licensing Corporation (DVD FLLC) licence. If the evaluation proves to be positive, the DaTARIUS HD DVD Class-A Lab will notify the DVD FLLC of the completion of this requirement. Further information regarding First Production Model erification can be found at the DVD FLLC website: http://www.dvdfllc.co.jp/verification/vr_next.html.

"There are two HD DVD Class-A Labs in the US and eight in the Asia-Pacific region, but to date there has been no HD DVD Class-A Lab in Europe," say Toshihiro Sugaya, Technology Adviser, HD DVD Division, Toshiba.

Class-A Verification Laboratories are run by the DVD Forum's Steering Committee members and/or leading companies in the development of DVD Formats. The labs execute comprehensive DVD verification (First Production Model and Next Production Model), services requested by the DVD Forum (e.g. market inspections), contribute to further development of Test Specifications, testing criteria, specification interpretation, methods and procedures, provide technical support to other Class-A Labs, Class-B and Class-C Labs, DVD FLLC, and the DVD Community, contribute to the development of test tools and provide services to the DVD FLLC (e.g. market inspection, market monitoring, etc.).

For several year DaTARIUS has been offering a service both to its customers and industry: the DaTARCENTER, offering quality control expertise and testing-on-demand for optical media manufacturers. The company has already installed its DaTABANK for HD DVD at key media manufacturers. Earlier this year, the company also released its HD DVD Signal Guide ? a guide that demystifies the HD DVD quality control parameters.