(8 August 2007 4:00 pm)

MUMBAI:Microsoft and Weta Digital, the visual effects company, announced a licensing agreement that will enhance Weta's ability to create graphics and special effects for its movie, commercial and other multimedia productions.

"We believe the graphics technologies developed in our research labs to be among the best in the world, and are pleased that we can collaborate with entertainment
industry leaders, through our new graphics technology IP licensing program, to bring new visual experiences to consumers," said Microsoft GM intellectual property licensing group Louis Carbonneau .

Weta Digital offers visual effects for international feature films and commercials. The company is best known for its visual effects work on The Lord of the Rings trilogy and more recently for its work on King Kong, all of which were directed by Peter Jackson.

"We realized that by working directly with Microsoft Research, we could develop these ideas faster and spend more time on the creative effects. It's great to be working with a talented group, like Microsoft Research, whose aim is to open up new horizons in digital imaging for filmmakers," said Weta Digital senior visual effects supervisor Joe Letteri.