TOKYO, May 28, 2003 -- Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (Tamotsu Nomakuchi, President & CEO) and the existing nine Blu-ray Disc Founders (BDF)* today announced that Mitsubishi Electric has become a new member company of BDF.

Mitsubishi Electric has taken a leading role in the development of optical disc technology in the relevant industries over the years, and has been promoting related technologies including DVD. Mitsubishi Electric has been focusing on blue laser technology as an important element in establishing the next generation high density and high-grade optical disc recording technology. Mitsubishi Electric has studied the BDF's Blu-ray Disc format as one of the most promising candidates in this area, and has contributed to the format's development through technical proposals to the BDF. Mitsubishi Electric has decided to participate in the BDF after observing commonalities in the future direction of Blu-ray Disc technology and its own in-house development.

The BDF commenced licensing of the Blu-ray Disc Rewritable format in February 2003, and is currently developing Blu-ray Disc "Write-once" and "Read-only" formats. At the request of Mitsubishi Electric, the BDF evaluated the potential of Mitsubishi Electric to make substantial technical contributions to these developing formats, and decided to welcome Mitsubishi Electric as a BDF member company. The BD Founders strongly believe that the addition of Mitsubishi Electric to the BDF will further enrich the group's activities.

With Mitsubishi Electric on board, a total of ten BDF members will devote themselves to further technological development at the highest level in the industry, while promoting the Blu-ray Disc formats to benefit related industries worldwide

*The Blu-ray Disc Founders formed officially in May 2002 to pursue broad acceptance of the “Blu-ray Disc” formats. Member companies so far include Hitachi, Ltd., LG Electronics Inc., Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., PIONEER CORPORATION, Royal Philips Electronics, SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., SHARP CORPORATION, Sony Corporation and THOMSON.

For media inquiries, contact:

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation	Robert Barz, Public Relations	Tel: +81-3-3218-2346 Robert.Barz@hq.melco.co.jp
Hitachi, Ltd.	Ubiquitous Platform Systems	Tel: +81-3-3506-1573
LG Electronics Inc.	Digital Media Research Lab	Tel: +82-2-3461-2735
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.	Corporate Communications	Tel: +81-3-3578-1237
Pioneer Corporation	Public Relations	Tel: +81-3-3495-9885
Royal Philips Electronics	Corporate Communications	Tel: +31-40-273-5677
Samsung Japan Corporation	Japan R&D Office	Tel: +81-3-5641-9857
Sharp Corporation	Public Relations	Tel: +81-6-6625-3006
Sony Corporation	Corporate Communications	Tel: +81-3-5448-2200
Thomson	Marketing Communications	Tel: +33 1 4186 55 90

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