LightScribe Direct Disc Labeling Solidifies Market Leadership; Licensee Base of Market Leaders Highlights Broad LightScribe Technology Adoption and Reflects Enthusiastic Customer Response.

CORVALLIS, Ore. -- LightScribe today announced that a number of additional leading optical drive and system manufacturers, software developers, and hardware and media brands have licensed its Direct Disc Labeling technology. These new licensees include leading optical disc drive manufacturers Panasonic Communications, Panasonic Shikoku Electronics, Pioneer, and QSI; hardware brands Asustek, Freecom Technologies, I/OMagic, Lite-On IT, ProStar Computer and Sager Midern Computer; media brands BenQ and Maxell; software developers Acoustica, Droppix, New Tech Infosystems and NewSoft Technology; and system integrator Micro-Star International.

LightScribe Direct Disc Labeling technology is already being incorporated by optical drive and media manufacturers, software developers, media and computer brands, including optical drive manufacturers, Hitachi-LG Data Storage, Lite-On IT, Philips-BenQ Data Storage, and Toshiba-Samsung Storage Technology; hardware brands BenQ, HP, LaCie and Philips; media manufacturers CMC Magnetics Corporation, Mitsubishi Chemical Company, and Moser Baer India Limited; media brands HP, Imation, Memorex, Philips, TDK, and Verbatim; and software developers CyberLink, InterVideo, MicroVision Development, Nero, Roxio, and Sonic Solutions.

"A critical step in developing a market standard capability is industry-wide integration and deployment. The breadth of LightScribe licensees across every facet of the optical industry attests to the merit of this technology. With just four months in the market, over 2.5 million LightScribe-enabled drives have shipped. Many consumers have told us how excited they are to get such professional-looking results so easily," said Kent Henscheid, marketing manager for LightScribe.

LightScribe is continuing to advance the technology, ensuring that licensees and consumers alike are making sound investments that will serve them over time. The numerous granted and pending patents cover various aspects of the LightScribe labeling system, including optical labeling mechanisms and techniques, optical storage media and embedded information, optical disc scanning systems and techniques, disc shape profiling, and coating materials and marking methods.

LightScribe was developed to solve the problem of unprofessional, incomplete and inferior-quality labeling methods. Customers can burn the data side on a disc as normal, then flip the disc over and burn a precise, iridescent label with their desired text and graphics using the same laser that burns the data -- no printer, permanent marker or adhesive labeling is required.

The LightScribe technology uses the optical drive's laser to deliver precisely controlled light energy to the disc through an innovative circular writing system. Where the energy focuses on the disc, a visible chemical change occurs in the dye coating. The result is a high-resolution reproduction of artwork, text or photos.

About LightScribe

LightScribe Direct Disc Labeling offers consumers and businesses a simple, no-hassle way to burn professional-looking, silkscreen-quality labels on their CDs and DVDs. LightScribe extends optical media, recorders and software through an integrated system of media with special laser-sensitive coating, laser control and imaging drive modifications, and labeling software enhancements. LightScribe uses the same laser that burns data in the disc drive to create precise, iridescent labels. LightScribe technology was developed and patented by HP. A business unit of HP, LightScribe licenses its technology to optical industry leaders in drive and media manufacturing and to hardware, media and software brands. Additional information about LightScribe is available at www.lightscribe.com.