HDMI Licensing, LLC, the agent responsible for licensing the High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) Specification on behalf of the HDMI Founders, has developed the HDMI Forum, a new organisation designed to foster broader industry participation in the development of future versions of the HDMI Specification. 

All future standardisation activities, including development of specifications, will be transitioned to the new organisation. Membership in the HDMI Forum is open to any interested company wishing to become a member.

“With over 1,100 adopters of the technology, and over 2 billion HDMI-enabled products shipped since launching the standard in 2003, the HDMI Founders strongly believe that the next leap in growth will come with broader industry participation,” said Steve Venuti, president of HDMI Licensing, LLC. 

“Due to the overwhelming success of the HDMI Specification and the increased adoption of the standard in a wide variety of applications and industries, the HDMI Founders decided to establish the HDMI Forum, a new organisation where interested companies can become an integral part of the development process.”

The current HDMI licensing model provides access to critical intellectual property at a minimal cost for those who adopt and implement the HDMI Specification.  For that reason, Adopters of the HDMI 1.4 Specification will see no change in their day-to-day business as it relates to their interaction with HDMI Licensing, LLC.  Current Adopters who wish to license future versions of the Specifications will be able to do so under a similar model.

HDMI Forum members will have the opportunity to nominate and elect a Board of Directors, which is scheduled to take place in November 2011.

Companies that join by 14 November 2011 will have the opportunity to nominate a candidate for the initial Board of Directors as well as participate in the initial Board of Director vote. The cost for an annual membership is US$15,000 ($A14,400). The HDMI Forum is also officially calling for contributions to the HDMI Specification to be discussed at upcoming Technical Working Group meetings scheduled for November and December of 2011.

To learn more about the HDMI Forum, benefits of membership, membership fees or to download a participation agreement, visit www.hdmiforum.org.