Sonic and Axeda announce licensing deal for RAVISENT

Sonic Solutions and Axeda Systems Inc have announced an agreement under which Axeda will license RAVISENT's software DVD player and other digital media technologies to Sonic.
Under the agreement, Sonic will pay Axeda a one-time fee of $2 million for the license and related agreements, and in return will obtain exclusive rights to deploy the RAVISENT technologies in the personal computer market.
Sonic will also expand their engineering team through the addition of key engineering talent from Axeda.
Sonic are the leading supplier of DVD creation software. Sonic MyDVD and DVDit! are bundled by leading manufacturers of PCs, DVD recorders, and video/graphics cards including Adaptec, Compaq, Dell, Fujitsu, HP, NEC, Nova, Panasonic, Philips, Pioneer, Sony, and others. The RAVISENT technologies, known for their quality and performance, have formed the basis for DVD player products for Microsoft's XBOX. For Sonic Solutions, the agreement with Axeda adds compatible products, technologies, and personnel to Sonic's DVD creation business.
"The addition of the RAVISENT technologies further strengthens Sonic's leadership position in DVD creation," said Christopher Kryzan, Senior Vice-President of Marketing and Engineering at Sonic.
"RAVISENT has one of the most efficient DVD players available and has a long-standing reputation for delivering exceptional video quality. The RAVISENT technologies will be excellent companions to Sonic's consumer and professional DVD authoring applications for both OEMs and end users."
Tom Fogarty, Executive Vice President and CFO for Axeda, said: "The addition of RAVISENT digital media technologies to Sonic's product portfolio will not only allow them to expand their technology base and broaden their product line, but allows Axeda to further concentrate its efforts on continuing its leadership in the DRM market."
Axeda Systems Inc are an enterprise software and services company that helps businesses become more competitive by using the Internet to tap the value of real-time information to optimise their service, development, sales and manufacturing operations. The company's flagship Axeda Device Relationship Management System is a distributed software solution that lets businesses monitor, manage and service intelligent devices deployed at remote sites.
Sonic Solutions, www.sonic.com
Axeda Systems, www.axeda.com
(GMcG)