Macrovision to Acquire Blu-ray Disc Security Technology from Cryptography Research, Inc.

Monday, November 19th, 2007
Cryptography Research, Inc. logo

Technology Selected as Standard by Blu-ray for Content Security Platform Known as BD+

SANTA CLARA — Macrovision Corporation (Nasdaq: MVSN) today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire certain technology assets from Cryptography Research, Inc. (CRI), the San Francisco-based R&D organization focused on solving complex security problems. Upon closing of the transaction, Macrovision will own the SPDC™ (Self-Protecting Digital Content) technology, which formed the basis of BD+, a key element of Blu-ray’s content security platform. The purchase includes certain CRI’s patents, security software code, and related third party customer and partner agreements. Macrovision will also hire certain CRI employees involved in the technology. Macrovision will hold a conference call to discuss the transaction today at 1:00pm Eastern time; see dial-in information below.

The Blu-ray Disc Association adopted BD+, exclusive to the Blu-ray format, as an added layer of content protection for movies and other premium entertainment released on the Blu-ray Disc standard. The technology will complement Macrovision’s existing ACP and Ripguard video security solutions.

“As we continue to build our business and work with our partners to develop and implement new distribution models in the digital marketplace, we seek to expand our capabilities to address emerging standards such as Blu-ray,” commented Fred Amoroso, CEO of Macrovision Corporation. “The integration of SPDC into our product portfolio will enable us to continue to provide innovative technology to our customers as they expand their distribution vehicles. Not only is BD+ critical for content security, but it also supports value-added features that enhance the consumer playback experience, such as potentially unlocking bonus content.” Mr. Amoroso also noted, “I am especially delighted to add some of the cryptographic talent for which CRI is renowned. We believe they will allow us to accelerate our future security solution development efforts.”

“We are a research organization dedicated to solving difficult cryptography problems,” commented Paul Kocher, President and Chief Scientist of Cryptography Research Inc. “We developed SPDC to enable consumers to experience content across a broad range of devices while simultaneously providing content owners with the control to manage the security of content in this dynamic environment. Macrovision shares this goal and now that SPDC has entered commercialization, we are confident Macrovision will take it to the next level.”

Unlike previous DVD security technologies, a critical advantage of BD+ is its ability to respond dynamically to security threats. Similar to Macrovision’s ACP technology, BD+ resides both in devices and on the media. Title-specific security code is embedded in each BD+ protected disc. On the device side, BD+ utilizes an embedded virtual machine and APIs that are integrated directly into the media player, which communicate with the code from the discs. As a result, new titles can carry unique security code to address emerging threats, thus providing content producers the ability to respond to security breaches without impacting legitimate consumers. This field upgradeability helps protect investments in the Blu-ray format over the long-term, a key concern of the motion picture industry.

BD+ has been adopted by more than 20 companies including major CE manufactures and motion studios. Upon the close of the transaction Macrovision will be the primary licensor of BD+ technology to Studios.

The consideration for the SPDC assets is $45 million in cash plus warrants exercisable for Macrovision stock, a portion of which are subject to certain performance milestones. The transition is subject to customary closing conditions and Macrovision expects it to close in the fourth quarter of 2007 and be slightly accretive to 2008 earnings.