What is "dvdplus"

The DVDplus is a dual-sided disc similar to the DualDisc. It is an optical disc storage technology that combines the technology of DVD and CD in one disc. A DVD and a CD-compatible layer are bonded together to provide a multi-format hybrid disc. DVDplus, like DualDisc, is not a new format as such: it combines two existing formats, DVD and CD, to produce a new product.

DVDplus is currently available in three variants:

1. CD / DVD
2. CD / DVD-Audio
3. DVD / ROM

These variants can be combined: for example the DVD side can contain a DVD-Video zone, a DVD-Audio zone and a ROM/file download zone, just as is the case with conventional DVDs.

It will eventually be possible to produce the DVDplus with upcoming formats, such as Blu-ray. All DVDplus formats can be played both on conventional CD players, on DVD players and on the computer (the format is compatible with approximately 99% of the players on the market).

There has been some controversy (See MSNBC article) surrounding the DVDplus format as of late, as United States record labels have attempted to roll out its DualDisc format with a specification that the creators of DVDplus claim is in violation of its essential patents (but see below for the actual patent status of DVDPlus).

According to the DVDPlus website, in December 2004, Sony DADC signed a global license agreement 1 with DVDplus International, the makers of DVDplus.

To circumvent legal wrangles, manufacturers releasing DualDiscs in Europe have generally, so far, paid a licence fee to Dierks, even though the discs they are releasing are actually DualDiscs and not DVDplus discs. This has generally been achieved by using certified DualDisc plants that are also licensed to make DVDplus discs.

It would be erroneous to think of DVDplus as 'the European equivalent of DualDisc'. Some record companies in the USA, notably Ryko, have released DVDplus products, and DualDisc is now a great deal more common in Europe (though not as common as in the USA). They are essentially two similar approaches to the same goal, although the RIAA has pointed out that DualDisc is a music medium, and not a video medium. No such nominal restriction applies to DVDplus.

Although theoretically almost identical, DVDplus discs have so far appeared in practice - despite claims to the contrary - to measure as having slightly thicker CD-compatible layers than DualDiscs (though not sufficiently thick to make them conform to CD Red Book specifications). As a result, DVDplus has been able to claim a higher level of compatibility with CD players than DualDisc (where the thinness of the CD-compatible layer has shown some incompatibilities with a few players). This also meant that there were no limitations to the CD-compatible side's playing time as was the case with early DualDiscs. However, increased overall disc thickness risks an increased likelihood of the disc getting stuck in slot-loading players and autochangers. Despite these factors, return rates for both of the dual-sided disc products as a result of either sticking or non-playability are claimed to be extremely small.