DIGITAL VIDEO ANTICOPY IC FROM SGS-THOMSON BEATS COPYRIGHT PIRATES.

GRENOBLE, France,--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 9, 1996--SGS-THOMSON Microelectronics, working closely with the Macrovision Corporation, has developed one of the first integrated circuits in the world that protects digital video systems, such as the forthcoming DVD players, from copyright pirates who illegally copy films, music and other material.

It is estimated that the first DVD players will reach the market later this year. These players will allow consumers to view movies on CD-sized disks that give high quality sound and pictures. Copyright owners, such as the major Hollywood movie studios, are concerned that the high quality of images could encourage home copying and have asked DVD manufacturers to add an effective copy protection system.

"Our product alleviates the concerns of Copyright owners," commented Aldo Romano, Corporate Vice President and General Manager of SGS-Thomson's Dedicated Products Group. "As well as meeting requirements defined by members of the American Consumer Electronics Manufacturers' Association (CEMA) and the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), the chip is available in time for the development of DVD products, which will be introduced this year."

These requirements have been developed in conjunction with new copyright protection legislation that may be introduced into the US Congress in late 1996 or in 1997.

The anti copy system, called Macrovision 7.0, works by modifying the video signal so that it can be viewed on a TV set but not recorded on a VCR. Any attempt to record a copy-protected signal results in a copy which is unviewable. Twenty seven consumer electronics companies worldwide have already been licensed to use the technology embodied in the STV0117A, which meets the Macrovision revision 7.0 anticopy process for the NTSC standard.

"We are very pleased with the opportunity to co-operate with SGS-THOMSON on these new versions of copy protection capable ICs" said Mark Belinsky, Vice President of Macrovision's Copy Protection Division. "We believe that such partnerships improve our ability to release new copy protection technologies to the market at the earliest possible date."

"Our company is the established leader in MPEG-2 decoder integrated circuits and offers many other differentiated products for digital video disk players and digital set top boxes" said Jean-Pierre Lusinchi, General Manager of SGS-THOMSON's Video Division. "This early introduction of another important component for digital video demonstrates the continuing commitment of SGS-THOMSON to this important market."

One leading DVD manufacturer has already chosen this part for a DVD player starting up mass production in Q396.

Macrovision Corporation develops and markets technologies that protect video, audio, and data in both prerecorded and electronically transmitted formats from unauthorized viewing and unauthorized recording. The company offers products and services for the home video, pay-per-view, cable, satellite, and corporate communications markets. Macrovision has subsidiaries in London and Tokyo, with headquarters in Sunnyvale, California.

SGS-THOMSON Microelectronics is a global independent semiconductor company listed on the New York Stock Exchange and on the Bourse de Paris. It designs, develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of semiconductor integrated circuits (ICs) and discrete devices used in a wide variety of microelectronic applications, including telecommunication systems, computer systems, consumer products, automotive products and industrial automation and control systems.

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