Blu-Ray and HD-DVD under investigation by sleuths
The European Commission has recently initiated an investigation into the two new formats of media being released, namely, our lovely Blu-Ray and the less-lovely-but-still-worth-a-look HD-DVD. No, Sherlock Holmes was not called in on this detective's dream, but an unofficial probe was. "Under what charges?!" demands Sony and Toshiba, spear-headers of the two formats. The EUC responds: "The Commission suspects that the licensing terms the companies are applying breach European competition rules." Egads!
An unnamed spokesman for the EUC told reporters that they had sent letters to the "makers" of Blu-Ray and HD-DVD to request licensing info, but refused to name names. Sony did that for them, eagerly telling the world they received one of the letters and have agreed to cooperate openly. Good move, since Toshiba and other HD-DVD makers have refused to comment or go public about the claims. Well, however the initial investigation goes, the EUC will either drop the whole thing or create a large anti-trust probe investigation. Let's hope it's the former so we can get our PS3's in a few months. Please!
