Who are they?
Japanese multinational manufacturing company Toshiba jointly developed the HD DVD format with NEC in 2005. The first HD DVD players arrived in the US in April 2006.
Toshiba has ploughed a lot of time, money, and reputation into the format, so it's no surprise that they continue to vigourously defend it.
What they should do
Graciously accept that most consumers are interested in content, and that without substantial studio support, the HD DVD format cannot be a mainstream success.
Allow Warner Brothers (and its associated companies) to move to Blu-ray unhindered by legal action.
Offer those remaining HD DVD-supporting studios an escape, should they decide they wish to release titles on the Blu-ray format.
Continue to push HD DVD only if they can offer a genuine, valuable market for the technology. Otherwise, let it die and accept Blu-ray.
What they'll probably do
Kick up a stink about Warner Brothers abandoning HD DVD, possibly threatening legal action for contracts which may have been broken.
Continue to argue that HD DVD is the best high definition disc format for general consumer use.
What it means for us
If (and it's a big "if") Toshiba accepts that their format is highly unlikely to achieve mainstream adoption, and either ditches it or accepts Blu-ray technology, then the format war could be all but over.
It would then be up to the combined clout of consumer electronics companies, movie studios, and retailers, to convince Joe Public that high definition in general is a good idea.
No more HD DVD / Blu-ray battle. Ri..i..i..ight.
This article is part of the HD DVD / Blu-ray Special Feature series
