[extua]

I wasn't aware you needed a license to use the DVD format. Does this deprecation of the licensing scheme suggest any opportunities for creative uses of DVD?

What's the situation for Blu-Rays?

[SahAssar]

I think you needed a license to use the logo, not necessarily to use the format.

[LocalH]

This. If you ever saw budget DVDs without the actual DVD logo (the one seen in the upper right corner of the link), but with a DVD logo of a completely different style, this is why.