News Release：Support for High-Speed Recordable DVD-R/RW Discs with Pioneer's DVR-A03-J, DVR-A04-J, DVR-S303 DVD-R/RW Writers and DVR-7000 DVD Recorder

September 17, 2002 -- Pioneer Corporation (TSE: 6773, NYSE: PIO) today announced that its DVD Recorder (DVR-7000) and DVD-R/RW writers (DVR-A03-J, DVR-A04-J, DVR-S303) may malfunction, if used with new high-speed DVD-R/RW discs*, soon-to-be-released from various manufacturers. This issue is caused by the device's inadequately programmed software, which may cause damage to both the device and the inserted high-speed disc.

Responding to this situation, Pioneer is informing all users of the problem via its website and advising them to download a program for updating the internal software and/or take the steps introduced below.

Pioneer sincerely apologizes to its customers for any inconvenience caused by this problem.

1 ) DVD-R/RW Writers for PC--DVR-A03-J, DVR-A04-J, DVR-S303

Users are kindly asked to download a program for updating the internal software directly from the URL provided below. Details in Japanese are available from the following contacts.

Contacts

2 ) DVD Recorder--DVR-7000

Updating of internal software is necessary for owners of the DVR-7000 Recorders that have not yet had their internal software updated (using a software updating disc sent to customers after notifying the problem on June 10, 2002).
Information on how to judge whether the recorder in question requires updating or not, and/or how to request the updating disc, is available in Japanese from the following contacts.

Contacts

Pioneer Website : http://pioneer.jp/oshirase/7000/
Toll free hotline:	0120-944-222 (Monday to Friday from 09:30 a.m. to 06:00 p.m., Saturday from 09:30 a.m. to noon time, and from 01:00 p.m. to 05:00 p.m., closed on Sunday, National Holiday and Pioneer's holiday)