Disc Description Protocol
DDP identifies and describes collections of data that will be recorded onto a High Density (HD),
DVD or CD optical disc. DDP was invented by Doug Carson and DCA to help manufacturers have a
consistent and complete description of the input media for use in glass mastering of CD. DDP was
extended to DVD in 1996, with High Density formats added in 2006, and continues to be licensed and
kept current by DCA. The DDP license is free of charge, and requires only the completion of a
license agreement and your commitment to keeping the standard consistent.
Effective March 2004, DCA was granted a registered trademark for DDP. DDP® is a registered trademark
of Doug Carson & Associates, Inc. and is protected by U.S. Copyright. Disc Description Protocol and
the DDP Logo are trademarks of DCA, Inc. Copyright© DCA, Inc. 2004-2008. All Rights Reserved.
Current DDP Versions by Format
CD (CD-Text Addendum is available) | DDP 2.0 |
DVD | DDP 2.10 |
HD DVD-ROM | DDP 3.0 |
Blu-ray | Not Currently Available |
DDP and CMF Comparison
The DVD Forum also sanctions CMF (Cutting Master Format), which is a derivative of DDP. This
remains the case for HD-DVD ROM: CMF 2.0 is a subset of DDP 3.0.
CMF for Blu-Ray (BD CMF) is not related to DDP, though it is DCA's hope that it also eventually will
resolve under the existing industry standard DDP.
Obtaining a DDP License
DDP License for CD and DVD
DDP 1.x - 2.10 License Agreement (Acrobat PDF): Complete and and return the entire agreement to DCA Sales for a copy of the
DDP Specification.
DDP License for HD DVD and China HD
DDP 3.0 License Agreement (Acrobat PDF): Complete and and return the entire agreement to DCA Sales for a copy of the DDP Specification.