Sonic Solutions and Neustar Join Forces to Help Drive Implementation of UltraViolet for Businesses

STERLING, Va. and NOVATO, Calif., Sept. 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Neustar, Inc. (NYSE: NSR) and Sonic Solutions® (Nasdaq: SNIC) today announced they are working together to accelerate the efforts of the Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem LLC (DECE, LLC). Established in 2008, the more than 60 member company consortium, DECE, aims to establish an interoperable ecosystem of digital entertainment storefronts and connected consumer electronic devices. Sonic and Neustar, as DECE members, will leverage their proprietary technologies to support the commercial launch of the consortium's consumer brand UltraViolet.

Neustar was chosen by the DECE to power the UltraViolet Digital Rights Locker, and Sonic is a digital services and streaming service provider for DECE members such as Best Buy and Cineplex Entertainment. The companies will work together to enable DECE members and licensees to rapidly integrate into the UltraViolet Digital Rights Locker.

Together, pending future licenses from content owners, the companies' cloud-based technologies – Neustar's content and rights management system, and Sonic's RoxioNow licensed entertainment content, asset distribution and ecosystem of storefronts, library access, and playback across PC and consumer electronics devices – will help to efficiently deliver digital entertainment to consumers and ensure that content is available on their UltraViolet device of choice. Specifically, the companies are together working on rapid and cost-effective integration of the UltraViolet Digital Rights Locker with retailer storefront and locker access service functions to provide a turn-key launch solution for UltraViolet participants.

"As part of DECE, our vision at Sonic is to make it possible for consumers to access their digital content wherever and whenever they choose – and along the way to create viable businesses for our studio, retail and device partners," said Dave Habiger, President and CEO, Sonic Solutions.  "By partnering with an industry-leading technology provider like Neustar, our goal is to make it easy for companies to efficiently implement UltraViolet in the marketplace, thereby addressing consumers' needs for convenience, flexibility and choice and, ultimately, fueling the growth of digital entertainment."

"Neustar's trusted technology is providing the entertainment marketplace with the confidence it needs to securely and reliably connect people to their content. Working with Sonic provides accelerated and even greater interoperability for content providers and retailers," said Jeffrey E. Ganek, CEO, Neustar. "Our present and future collaborations with all our valued partners, such as Sonic, are moving us closer to the goal of realizing UltraViolet's promise of providing consumers with the choice and convenience they demand and deserve."

"As we near launch of the UltraViolet ecosystem, partnerships like this one between Sonic and Neustar will accelerate deployment of UltraViolet-based offers into the consumer market, bringing a break-through level of choice, freedom and confidence to digital media consumers," said Mark Teitell, Executive Director and General Manager of DECE. "UltraViolet is designed to foster a competitive market of services and solutions providers that can help distributors bring UltraViolet content to their consumers in this way – and congratulations to Sonic and Neustar for moving quickly and aggressively as a real example of this principle."

About Neustar

Neustar, Inc. (NYSE: NSR) provides market-leading and innovative digital clearinghouse and registry  services for a broad range of companies in the media, telecommunications and carrier services industries, enabling neutral and trusted communication across networks, applications and enterprises around the world. Neustar was chosen to power the Digital Rights Locker for the Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem's UltraViolet™ brand. UltraViolet will make it easy for consumers to enjoy digital movies and entertainment how, when and where they want. www.neustar.biz for more information.

About Sonic Solutions

Sonic Solutions® (NASDAQ: SNIC) is powering the digital media ecosystem through its complete range of Hollywood to Home™ applications, services, and technologies. Sonic's Roxio products enable consumers to easily manage and enjoy personal media and premium Hollywood entertainment on a broad range of connected devices. A wide array of leading technology firms, professionals, businesses, and developers rely on Sonic to bring innovative digital media functionality to next-generation devices and platforms. Sonic Solutions is headquartered in Marin County, California.

About Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem (DECE) LLC

The Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem (DECE) LLC is a cross-industry initiative developing the next generation digital media experience, UltraViolet. UltraViolet will be based on open, licensable specifications and is being designed by DECE to create a viable, global digital marketplace. The DECE is currently made up of Adobe, Alcatel-Lucent, Ascent Media Group, Best Buy, BT, CableLabs, Catch Media, Cineplex Entertainment, Cisco, Comcast, Cox Communications, CSG Systems' Content Direct, Deluxe Digital, DivX, Dolby Laboratories, DTS, Fox Entertainment Group, HP, Huawei, IBM, Intel, Irdeto, Liberty Global, Lionsgate, Microsoft, MOD Systems, Motorola, Movie Labs, Nagravision, NBC Universal, NDS, Netflix, Neustar, Nokia, Panasonic, Paramount Pictures, Philips, Red Bee Media, RIAA, Rovi, Roxio CinemaNow, Samsung Electronics, Secure Path, Sony, SwitchNAP, Tesco, Thomson, Toshiba, Verimatrix, VeriSign, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Widevine Technologies Inc. and Zoran. DECE's new digital media specifications, logo program and interoperable digital rights locker will enable consumers to purchase digital video content from a choice of online retailers and play it on a variety of devices and platforms from different manufacturers.

Forward Looking Statements

This release may contain forward looking statements that are based upon current expectations, including the launch, distribution, and market acceptance of Sonic's collaboration with Neustar. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward looking statements as a result of various risks and uncertainties, including those discussed in Sonic Solutions' annual and quarterly reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This press release should be read in conjunction with Sonic Solutions' most recent annual report on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and other reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which contain a more detailed discussion of the Company's business including risks and uncertainties that may affect future results. Sonic Solutions does not undertake to update any forward looking statements.

Sonic, the Sonic logo, Sonic Solutions, Roxio, RoxioNow, and Hollywood to Home, are trademarks or registered trademarks owned by Sonic Solutions in the United States and/or other countries. All other company or product names are trademarks of their respective owners and, in some cases, are used by Sonic Solutions under license. Specifications, pricing and delivery schedules are subject to change without notice.

SOURCE Sonic Solutions