NewsFebruary 2005

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PASS Group announces final specification

PMA 2005: The specification for the Picture Archiving and Sharing Standard (PASS), first announced at Photokina last year by Kodak, Fujifilm and Konica Minolta, has now been finalized. PASS is designed to allow users to share digital files saved onto CD or DVD in years to come without incompatibility issues. The three manufacturers will first implement the new standards, utilizing them on their existing photo CD products beginning this year.

Press Release:

Picture Archiving and Sharing Standard (PASS) Specification v1.0 Now Complete

Specification will facilitate the development of compatible products and services to help ensure consumer’s future enjoyment of digital pictures and videos

London, February 20 — Eastman Kodak Company, Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd., and Konica Minolta Photo Imaging, Inc. today announced the completion of a set of standards for the consumer imaging and electronics industries, setting a path to help ensure compatibility of digital photos and motion images on CDs, DVDs or other media with a broad range of consumer products.

Since Photokina 2004, when its formation was announced, the Picture Archiving and Sharing Standard (PASS) group has worked to define the standard, with the prime goal of putting consumers in a better position to enjoy their pictures not only today, but also with future generations.

Kodak, Fujifilm, and Konica Minolta have previously worked together on standards to make traditional photofinishing ubiquitous. In much the same way that today's consumer can get nearly any brand of film processed at any location, the PASS group wants to ensure that digital images can be retrieved from any digital device or storage medium.

The PASS version 1.0 specification suite includes:

• PASS Logical Disc Specification. This specification describes the logical components or data structures that are found on a PASS disc.
• PASS Originating/Authoring System Requirements Specification. This specification describes the capabilities needed by a system that creates PASS discs.
• PASS Receiving/Playback System Requirements Specification. This specification describes the capabilities needed by a system that plays the content of a PASS disc.

In addition, to best convey the benefits of the PASS vision and specifications, the group will make available a white paper to the industry.

Eastman Kodak Company, Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd., and Konica Minolta Photo Imaging, Inc. will first implement the new standards, utilizing them on their existing photo CD products beginning this year.

The companies encourage the use of the PASS specification for products in all applicable industries. Details in obtaining the version 1.0 specification, available in the near term, can be obtained from the following: Frank Ranalletti of Eastman Kodak Company (frank.ranalletti@kodak.com), Tatsuo Heki of Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. (thfpf@tokyo.fujifilm.co.jp), or Yutaka Ueda (ytk.kmpi@konicaminolta.jp) of Konica Minolta Photo Imaging, Inc.