HDMI Licensing Authority sets trademark and logo guidelines for manufacturers

The HDMI Licensing LLC yesterday announced the release of Trademark and Logo Usage Guidelines creating a consistent way for manufacturers to describe the HDMI-enabled functionality of their products.

Because the HDMI version number (current latest version is 1.3) includes a set of optional features that manufacturers can include on their products, based on a target market, the organisation now requires manufacturers to specifically list what functionality is available on a particular product's HDMI.

In addition, for each of the features, the guidelines establish minimum functionality that the device must deliver to the user, thus ensuring that consumers buying these products will receive a consistent, high-quality experience. With these guidelines, manufacturers, retailers and installers will be able to more accurately convey to consumers HDMI-enabled features — such as Deep Color functionality, x.v. Colour extended colour gamut, and advanced audio formats — available in high-definition consumer electronics and PCs.

"Our goal with the release of the HDMI Trademark and Logo Usage Guidelines is to provide the CE industry with a common language to explain HDMI functionality, and to ensure that the new terms will clearly describe the performance of each feature to the consumer," said Les Chard, president of HDMI Licensing. "To further support manufacturers, retailers and installers in helping consumers make better informed decisions, we have created a map of HDMI features with terminology that is easy to communicate. With the new guidelines, the industry now has the means to do that more effectively."

Manufacturers need to use "commercially reasonable efforts" to comply with these guidelines immediately. They become mandatory on all new products shipped from 17th October next year (2008).

Whether consumers will understand this feature list is another matter.