The DVD+RW Alliance is a group of electronic hardware, optical storage and software manufacturers who created and promote a format standard of recordable and rewritable DVDs, known as the "plus" format. As of 2004, plus format DVDs come in three forms: DVD+R, DVD+RW and DVD+R DL.

Mission of the Alliance

The Alliance seeks to develop and promote a format of rewritable DVDs that is universally compatible with both DVD drives in personal computers (PCs) and standalone consumer products (i.e., DVD players and DVD recorders) to allow a greater convergence in function between the two.

Work of the Alliance

The Alliance has two major working groups. The DVD+RW Product Promotions Group is responsible for the promotion work of the Alliance for the plus format and plus format products. The DVD+RW Compatibility and Convergence Group is responsible for working on the technical issues involved in the compatibility between the various hardware products using the plus format.

Alliance leaders

Eight companies form the leadership of the Alliance:

• Dell Computer Corp.
• HP (Hewlett-Packard Co.)
• Mitsubishi Chemical Corp.
• Royal Philips Electronics N.V.
• Ricoh Company, Ltd.
• Sony Corp.
• Thomson SA (RCA)
• Yamaha Corp.

Rival formats

Competing format standards promoted by the rival DVD Forum are the "dash" format (DVD-R and DVD-RW) and the DVD-RAM format. Alliance leaders Philips, Sony and Thomson were also founding members of the DVD Forum, established earlier in 1995. As of 2004, both plus and dash formats seem equally popular with consumers, and both are compatible with the vast majority of DVD players.

External links

• DVD+RW Alliance home page
• DVDplusRW.org (an unofficial plus format website)