EXHIBIT 99.1
news release SONIC(TM)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
January 9, 2002 Paul Lefebvre, Sonic Solutions
415.893.8000 phone . 415.893.8008 fax
NASDAQ:SNIC paul_lefebvre@sonic.com email
-----------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Sonic Solutions and Microsoft Announce
Licensing Agreement on DVD Authoring Technology
Redmond, Washington, and Novato, California (January 9, 2002) - Microsoft Corp.
and Sonic Solutions today announced that Microsoft has licensed Sonic's
DVD-Video-authoring technology. Under the terms of the multiyear agreement,
Sonic will provide core technology and development expertise to Microsoft. The
companies will also cooperate in a number of ways in marketing, customer
education, and standards development for their DVD-related products.
This agreement will cover technologies that Sonic has developed, including Sonic
AuthorScript(R), the underlying technology behind Sonic's award-winning
DVD-authoring applications that has become the Hollywood standard to create DVD
titles which provide the ultimate in performance and player compatibility.
"We're delighted that Microsoft has chosen Sonic DVD technology," said Bob
Doris, President of Sonic Solutions. "The features of Sonic AuthorScript will
create new opportunities for Microsoft customers in the future."
Introduced in 1997, DVD-Video is the most successful new consumer entertainment
format ever, surpassing by a wide margin the adoption rates of the audio compact
disc and VCR. By the end of 2002, more than 50 percent of all U.S. homes will
have DVD players or DVD PCs, according to Adams Media Research.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software,
services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The
company offers a wide range
4
of products and services designed to empower people through great software --
any time, any place and on any device.
About Sonic Solutions (NASDAQ: SNIC)
Based in Marin County, California, Sonic (http://www.sonic.com) is the world's
leading manufacturer of solutions for DVD creation. Sonic MyDVD(TM)
(http://www.mydvd3.com) is the first DVD authoring application for consumers,
and is the leading DVD solution among DVD recorder and PC manufacturers. Sonic
DVDit! (R) (http://www.dvdit.com) is the leading DVD authoring application for
videographers and corporate video producers; more than 1 million copies of
DVDit! have been sold. Sonic DVD Creator(R), Sonic Scenarist(R), Sonic
ReelDVD(TM) and Sonic DVD Fusion are the most widely-used systems for
professional DVD publishing, and are installed worldwide at major studios, post
production facilities and in corporate marketing departments. Sonic is a full
voting member of the DVD Forum, the standards-setting body for the DVD format.
For more information, press only:
Ann Johnson, Weber Shandwick, (425) 452-5400, ajohnson@webershandwick.com
---------------------------
Paul Lefebvre, Sonic Solutions, (415) 893-8023, paul_lefebvre@sonic.com
Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on
Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft(R) Web page at
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/ on Microsoft's corporate information pages.
Sonic Solutions, the Sonic logo, DVD Editing, MyDVD, and ReelDVD are trademarks
of Sonic Solutions. AuthorScript, Sonic DVD Creator, DVDit!, Scenarist, and
SonicStudio are registered trademarks of Sonic Solutions. Microsoft is a
registered trademark of Microsoft Corp. 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 under license. Specifications,
pricing and delivery schedules are subject to change without notice.
The above paragraphs of this press release contain forward looking statements
that are based upon current expectations. Actual results could differ materially
from those projected in the forward looking statements as a result of various
risks and uncertainties including, among others, the timely introduction and
acceptance of new products, costs associated with new product introductions, the
transition of products to new hardware configurations and platforms and other
factors, including those discussed in the Company's annual and quarterly reports
on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This press release should
be read in conjuction with the Company's most recent annual report on Form 10-K
and quarterly report on Form 10-Q 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.
5