A potential licensee should first contact the LTO Program via the Licensing Administrator and request a license and additional information if needed. The licensing administrator will then send a confidential disclosure agreement that the potential licensee will sign and return. The licensing administrator will then send the appropriate licensing agreements to the potential licensee.
Guide to Package Selection
With the purchase of any of the following packages, the licensee receives the “basic package” with copies of the Format Specification for Ultrium, UCC and the Data Compression Format Specification. Additional documentation, IP rights, and fees vary with the type of license purchased.
Tape Cartridge Licenses
If you are interested only in designing Ultrium tape cartridges, the respective Tape Cartridge License is sufficient. In addition to the Format Specification documents, you will receive the Ultrium Tape Cartridge License Document and the Trademark Style Guide. You will also receive the necessary IP rights for the tape cartridge from the TPCs.
Tape Mechanism Licenses
This type of license enables the licensee to design Ultrium tape mechanisms. In addition to the Format Specification documents, you will also receive the Ultrium Tape Cartridge License document, the Ultrium Tape Mechanism License document, and the Trademark Style Guide. You will also receive certain essential IP rights for the tape mechanism from the TPCs.
Format Specification Document Participant
The documentation you will receive in the basic package is sufficient for your company to build compliant products. However, your company will need to independently acquire any patent or other intellectual property rights of the TPCs or third parties necessary to produce the Ultrium tape cartridge or tape mechanism. If you are interested in investigating the feasibility of a format specification for your company, this type of agreement provides the opportunity to review a format specification with a minimal investment.
Compliance Verification
In an effort to promote interchangeability of tape cartridges, the TPCs perform specification compliance verification testing. These tests will be required annually for all companies that use the logo.
For more information on licenses, please contact the Licensing Administrator.