Who is it that decides when a technology is defunct? The industry? The consumers? Both entities? Or is there need for an impartial and objective referee, as one finds in boxing matches, to count to 10 before one of the opponents is declared knocked out?

If we discussed the battle between HD DVD and Blu Ray, it would seem Warner has opted to be the referee. As you may already know, by announcing its intention to release films only on Blu Ray, the company sent HD DVD to the floor; what is required is somebody to start the countdown.

Is HD DVD really close to knockout? The support of the movie industry is indeed crucial and as Blu Ray already has five major names of the cinema on its side, HD DVD looks like a sure victim.

In the meantime, it looks like Paramount, a fairly recent ally of the HD DVD format, is now contemplating an alliance with Blu Ray.

Taking all this into consideration, HD DVD is without doubt in the most difficult moment of its existence and the reactions of its creator, Toshiba, have unfortunately been quite chaotic, as have those of HD DVD Promotion Group, confirming the current crisis.

During the statements it made at CES, Toshiba attempted to emphasize that it is the consumers who ultimately decide which format to choose; judging by the number of movies sold in the Blu Ray format though (with a 2 to 1 ratio to the disadvantage of HD DVD), it seems the consumers have already decided.

Nevertheless, let us not forget that a fairly large number of HD DVD players exists; that standing close to Toshiba are giants of the technology industry such as Microsoft and Intel; and that there are still plenty of potential partners interested in the promotion of the format.

Indisputably, should Toshiba fail to present a clear strategy in the near future as well as its concrete intentions concerning HD DVD, it is hard to believe there will be a revival after this.

However, even if it is difficult to believe that without the support of production companies HD DVD will ever manage to be anything more than a marginal format, an alternative that will continue to live on life support.

To conclude, it appears that Warner Bros Entertainment is to remain in history as the one responsible for the demise of HD DVD. Or perhaps not?...