Date: March 2003

TDK Launches Second Generation DVD Media for 4x Speed Writers

CeBIT 12.-19. March 2003 - TDK Recording Media Europe today launched its second generation DVD media certified for use with 4x DVD+R/RW Writers. Manufactured in TDK's high-tech facilities in Japan, these new 4x speed discs use a specially tuned dye formula enabling a 4.7 GB DVD+R to be burnt in approximately 15 minutes.

Available in a standard Jewel Case, DVD-Box and in a special ScratchProof™ version, these 4x speed recordable DVDs provide the highest possible quality and compatibility with all available DVD+R/+RW recorders, for either PC or consumer DVD video recorders.

By purchasing a 4x speed DVD with ScratchProof™ coating, users can help guard against read errors when trying to playback data or films. The special ScratchProof™ coating, which is unique to TDK, is applied with a special spin-coating technology making the discs 100* times more resistant to scratches than standard DVD+R/+RWs.

Hartmut Kulessa, product manager optical storage media, TDK Recording Media Europe, commented on the new technology: "We are seeing a huge uptake by consumers of recordable DVD writers. With the continuing development of faster DVD writers TDK is committed to produce advanced grades of optical media to support these new recording speeds. By being one of the first manufacturers to market with 4x speed DVD+R/+RW discs and by also being able to offer them in ScratchProof™ versions TDK has again proved its leadership in optical design." He added, "As DVD Writer speeds increase further TDK aim to be the first trusted brand to support them with recordable media."
The 4x speed DVD recordable discs will be available across Europe in April 2003 from the usual stockists.

*The figure of '100 times more scratch resistant' has been determined through rigorous bench testing in TDK's laboratories. The data from these tests is available on request.

Notes to editors
TDK Recording Media Europe, a subsidiary of TDK Corporation, Japan with sales of US$ 4.323 billion (April 1, 2001 - March 31, 2002), is a leading producer of recording and playback solutions as well as a publisher of quality entertainment software. Its product range encompasses tape and disc-based media for practically all established formats, and entertainment software for video game systems and music titles on DVD. Employing around 750 skilled staff at Bascharage, Luxembourg, TDK has one of the world's most sophisticated plants for recording media products in the world, Sales and Marketing functions are located in Ratingen, Germany.

For more information about TDK Recording Media products, go to www.tdk-europe.com