FAQ - SD Association
Source: https://www.sdcard.org/about-sda/faq
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:21
FAQ - SD Association
FAQ
About SD Association
Join the SD Association
Membership Benefits Comparison
Membership Application
Member Companies
Fact Sheet
FAQ
Glossary
SD Association Interest Group
About SD Association
About SD Association
Join the SD Association
Membership Benefits Comparison
Membership Application
Member Companies
Fact Sheet
FAQ
Glossary
SD Association Interest Group
General
What is the SD Association?
What is the function of the SD Association?
How can the SD Association help me?
What are the benefits of SD standards?
Product
What specifications have been developed by SD Association?
In what types of products are SD standards used?
How are the SD specifications developed?
How can my company obtain the SD specification?
Does SD Association have a product certification program? How do you get certified?
What is the SD Speed Class?
What are the applications for Speed Class?
What is UHS-Ⅰ/UHS-Ⅱ/UHS-Ⅲ?
What is the SD Express?
Licensing
Why do the SD-3C, LLC and the SDA have different agreements?
Has the License Agreement for SDA Memory Card Specifications (LAMS) agreement changed?
What is the Card License Agreement (CLA)?
What are the benefits of signing the current SDALA?
Do pre-2013 HALA licensees need to take any steps now?
Are all new SDA members required to complete the SD-3C HALA?
What is the non-member Non-Disclosure Agreement (“NDA”)?
Is a license needed for CPRM?
Do all SD cards support CPRM features?
What type of content protection technology is expected to be offered other than CPRM on SD memory card?
How can I identify CPRM and non-CPRM card?
How can I select CPRM card ?
May an SDALA Licensee use a subcontractor to manufacture and/or design an SD Memory Card, SD Host Product or SD Ancillary Product?No new SDALA is required by the SDA for newly adopted or revised specifications. Please contact
Must a company be a member of the SDA to gain access to the SD Specifications?
Why is no indemnification given by the SDA to Licensee even though a Licensee is required to indemnify the SDA for
claims arising out of its use of the SD Association Specifications?
If a non-member company desires to produce a standalone product that hosts SD Memory Cards, what agreement should
it sign?
If a non-member company desires to produce an ancillary product that is interoperable with SD Host Products or SD Memory Cards, what agreement should it sign?
If a non-member company desires to produce an I/O Card, what agreement should it sign?
If a non-member company desires to produce SD Memory Cards, what agreement should it sign?
Will Licensees need to sign a new SDALA, SD-3C HALA, CLA or other agreement each time a revision or new SD Specification
is released?
How are disclosed Essential Patent Claims that cover higher levels and future versions of SDA Specifications to be
licensed?
What SD Specifications are mandatory or optional for SD Host Products?
Is implementation of the Part 3 (Security) mandatory for all SD Host Products or SD Ancillary Products?
When may an SDA member use the SD logo, SDA Application Designations, or SDA Pictographs?
Is verification of product compliance mandatory?
Are there any verification tools available from the SDA to assist in testing?
Whom should potential Licensees contact with further questions about licensing from SD-3C, LLC or SDA?
What is the structure of the Association?
How can my company become a member?
What is the duration of the membership?
Do I need to be a member of the SD Association in order to be a distributor or third party entity distributing other
members SD product?
Membership
What is the structure of the Association?
How can my company become a member?
What is the duration of the membership?
Do I need to be a member of the SD Association in order to be a distributor or third party entity distributing other
members SD product?
Other
How can I get more information on the Association?
General
What is the SD Association?
The SD Association is a global ecosystem of companies setting industry-leading memory card storage standards that simplify the use and extend the life of consumer electronics, including mobile phones, for millions of people every day. SD Association was formed in January 2000 by Panasonic Corporation, SanDisk Corporation, and Toshiba Corporation. Today, the Association is made up of about 800 member companies involved in the design, development or manufacturer of products using SD standards. The small, postage stamp-sized removable memory cards are used by hundreds of brands across dozens of product categories and found in thousands of device models. SD memory card and SD host device are the generic terms for any memory card or device built to SD standards. SD Association does not manufacture, market or sell any product; it creates standards and then promotes the adoption, advancement and use of SD standards used by competing product manufacturers that make interoperable memory cards and devices.
Return to Questions
What is the function of the SD Association?
The SD Association establishes the technical and specification standards for SD memory card applications, continuously promotes SD as the leading industry standard, and encourages the development of digital A/V, wireless communication, and digital networking products that utilize the many unique benefits of SD standards.
Return to Questions
How can the SD Association help me?
By becoming an SD Association member, you receive the latest information on SD standards allowing you to build products and solutions that conform to the standard and avoid potential compatibility issues. You also may participate in SD Association activities to help advance the future of SD technology.
Return to Questions
What are the benefits of SD standards?
SD is the leading standard for mobile phones, digital cameras, audio players, personal computers, printers, car navigation systems, electronic books, and many other consumer electronic devices. Many SD standards are available in a variety of capacities and speed classes: SDHC/SDXC and microSDHC/microSDXC. SD standards enable manufacturers to deliver high-performance products that simplify how millions of consumers capture and enjoy video, photos, and sounds every day. With SD standards-based products, consumers have the ultimate flexibility and convenience to store and share digital contents anytime and anywhere.
Return to Questions
Product
What specifications have been developed by SD Association?
SD Association standards and specifications include:
Standard Memory Cards (up to 2GB): SD, microSD
High-Capacity Memory Cards (above 2GB, 32GB and less): SDHC, microSDHC
Extended Capacity Memory Cards (above 32GB up to 2TB): SDXC and microSDXC
Ultra Capacity Memory Cards (above 2TB up to 128TB): SDUC and microSDUC
SDIO cards
SD Speed Class (Class 2, 4, 6, 10), UHS Speed Class 1 and 3 and Video Speed Class 6, 10, 30, 60, 90
Bus Speed: Normal, High and Ultra High Speed (UHS-Ⅰ , UHS-Ⅱ and UHS-Ⅲ), SD Express
Return to Questions
In what types of products are SD standards used?
SD is the leading standard for mobile phones, digital cameras, audio layers, personal computers, printers, car navigation systems, electronic books, and many other consumer electronic devices as well as some business solutions.
Return to Questions
How are the SD specifications developed?
The SD Association Technical Committee is made up of working groups focused on the development of next generation specifications.All members are allowed to participate in technical working groups but only Executive members are allowed to vote on the specifications.
Return to Questions
How can my company obtain the SD specification?
Your company may have access to the complete specification by becoming a member of SDA. If your company is in the R&D stages and requires the complete specification, it is available without membership by providing a signed Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) and payment of designated fees to the association for one year. If you plan to manufacture products, please visit our
Use and Licensing
section for more details and appropriate forms.
Return to Questions
Does SD Association have a product certification program? How do you get certified?
The SD Association offers a self-certification program to its members. The Compliance Committee recommends using the approved Test Specification which is made available to members in the Members Site. Members may locate additional information on compliance and testing under Compliance News in the Members Site.
Return to Questions
What is the SD Speed Class?
The SD Association has established standards that rate the minimum data transfer on the needs of companies creating video recording products that require certain writing speeds when recording the data onto a memory card. The SD Speed Class, UHS Speed Class and Video Speed Class standardized this for both memory cards and devices in order to guarantee minimum writing speeds and deliver the best performance.
Return to Questions
What are the applications for Speed Class?
Applications are listed on
Speed Class Page
.
Return to Questions
What is UHS-Ⅰ/UHS-Ⅱ/UHS-Ⅲ?
Ultra High Speed (UHS) defines bus-Interface speeds up to 104 MB/s for the UHS-Ⅰ, up to 312 MB/s for UHS-Ⅱand 624MB/s for UHS-Ⅲ. Bus speeds power data transfer speeds between SD host devices and SD memory cards. UHS is exclusive to SDHC and SDXC memory cards.
Return to Questions
What is the SD Express?
SD Express memory cards, serve as removable Solid State Drives (SSD), up to 3940 MB/s with PCIe technology with NVMe protocol maintaining UHS-I interface delivering speeds essential for high-resolution content applications such as super-slow motion video, RAW continuous burst mode and 8K video capture and playback, 360 degree videos, and mobile computing devices, gaming systems, multi-channel IoT devices, numerous automotive storage needs, to name a few.
Return to Questions
Licensing
Licensing Documents
Why do the SD-3C LLC and the SDA have different agreements?
SD-3C LLC and the SDA own different intellectual property, are separate legal entities and may collect fees independently. The SDA Board of Directors has determined it is appropriate for each organization to be responsible for agreements protecting their respective intellectual property and for any fees for using their intellectual property.
All new members (as of January 1, 2017) are required to complete the SDA Membership Agreement, and for those wishing to make SD products, the SD Association License Agreement (SDALA). New members wishing to make SD products should comply with the SD-3C LLC’s agreements, including the SD-3C LLC Host and Ancillary Product License Agreement(SD-3C HALA) and Card License Agreement (CLA). The SD-3C LLC can be contacted for more information on these agreements at:
admin@sd-3c.com
There may be other license agreements required for SD products from other third parties, (e.g., the 4C Entity, LLC for CPRM licenses).
Return to Questions
Has the License Agreement for SDA Memory Card Specifications (LAMS) agreement changed?
The LAMS agreement has been replaced by the SDALA and is no longer offered.
Return to Questions
What is the Card License Agreement (CLA)?
The CLA is a confidential agreement related to SD Memory Cards between the SD-3C LLC and the licensee. As the SDA is not a party to this agreement, it cannot provide any guidance. The SD-3C LLC should be contacted for more information on this agreement at:
admin@sd-3c.com
.
Return to Questions
What are the benefits of signing the current SDALA?
The SD Association License Agreement (SDALA) includes a royalty-free license for SDA members for products using SD Association intellectual property (e.g., the SD Association Specifications and pictographs).
Return to Questions
Do pre-2013 HALA licensees need to take any steps now?
The pre-2013 joint HALA was a three party agreement between the licensee, the SD Association, and the SD-3C LLC, covering both SD Association and SD-3C LLC intellectual property. To replace the license coverage following the expiration of the joint HALA, your company should execute the SDALA and the SD-3C HALA. You can contact the SD-3C LLC for more information at:
admin@sd-3c.com
.
Return to Questions
Are all new SDA members required to complete the SD-3C HALA?
The SD-3C HALA is a confidential agreement between the SD-3C LLC and the licensee. As the SDA is not a party to this agreement, it cannot provide any guidance. The SD-3C LLC should be contacted for more information on this agreement at:
admin@sd-3c.com
.
Return to Questions
What is the non-member Non-Disclosure Agreement (“NDA”)?
The non-member NDA grants potential licensees a one-year evaluation license to both the SD-3C-owned and the SDA-owned portions of the SD Specifications. The SDA and the SD-3C have combined their efforts to create the current version of the NDA (sometimes referred to as the Combined NDA) so that potential licensees need to execute only one document to obtain an evaluation license to all portions of the SD Specifications. This NDA does not provide any right for commercial use of the SD Specifications.
The NDA has a $1,000 administration fee. If your company becomes a member of the SD Association within ninety (90) days of the effective date of the NDA, then the SD Association will credit the $1,000 fee towards your membership.
Return to Questions
Is a license needed for CPRM?
The SD Specifications require implementation of CPRM for some types of SD Memory Cards.
If an SD Host or SD Ancillary Product will implement CPRM to record copyrighted content on SD Memory Cards, contact the 4C Entity, LLC (
www.4centity.com
) to determine your license requirements. As the SD Association is not a party to this agreement, it cannot provide any guidance.
Return to Questions
Do all SD cards support CPRM features?
No. Starting in 2018, SD memory cards can be produced without CPRM capabilities based upon the SD 6.10 specification version. This change reflects current market requirements with fewer content management restrictions. Japan still has more requirements where CPRM is used.
Return to Questions
What type of content protection technology is expected to be offered other than CPRM on SD memory card?
There is no plan to offer any new or different content protection features on SD memory cards. Application providers may implement proprietary content protection solutions using the card as a platform to store secured content.
Return to Questions
How can I identify CPRM and non-CPRM card?
The following symbol has been newly defined for the purpose of distinguishing SD cards without CPRM from those with CPRM. The use of this symbol on SD card package and Web/catalog is mandated in the Japanese market only.
As for the markets outside of Japan,
the use of this symbol is optional.
FAQ
About SD Association
Join the SD Association
Membership Benefits Comparison
Membership Application
Member Companies
Fact Sheet
FAQ
Glossary
SD Association Interest Group
About SD Association
About SD Association
Join the SD Association
Membership Benefits Comparison
Membership Application
Member Companies
Fact Sheet
FAQ
Glossary
SD Association Interest Group
General
What is the SD Association?
What is the function of the SD Association?
How can the SD Association help me?
What are the benefits of SD standards?
Product
What specifications have been developed by SD Association?
In what types of products are SD standards used?
How are the SD specifications developed?
How can my company obtain the SD specification?
Does SD Association have a product certification program? How do you get certified?
What is the SD Speed Class?
What are the applications for Speed Class?
What is UHS-Ⅰ/UHS-Ⅱ/UHS-Ⅲ?
What is the SD Express?
Licensing
Why do the SD-3C, LLC and the SDA have different agreements?
Has the License Agreement for SDA Memory Card Specifications (LAMS) agreement changed?
What is the Card License Agreement (CLA)?
What are the benefits of signing the current SDALA?
Do pre-2013 HALA licensees need to take any steps now?
Are all new SDA members required to complete the SD-3C HALA?
What is the non-member Non-Disclosure Agreement (“NDA”)?
Is a license needed for CPRM?
Do all SD cards support CPRM features?
What type of content protection technology is expected to be offered other than CPRM on SD memory card?
How can I identify CPRM and non-CPRM card?
How can I select CPRM card ?
May an SDALA Licensee use a subcontractor to manufacture and/or design an SD Memory Card, SD Host Product or SD Ancillary Product?No new SDALA is required by the SDA for newly adopted or revised specifications. Please contact
Must a company be a member of the SDA to gain access to the SD Specifications?
Why is no indemnification given by the SDA to Licensee even though a Licensee is required to indemnify the SDA for
claims arising out of its use of the SD Association Specifications?
If a non-member company desires to produce a standalone product that hosts SD Memory Cards, what agreement should
it sign?
If a non-member company desires to produce an ancillary product that is interoperable with SD Host Products or SD Memory Cards, what agreement should it sign?
If a non-member company desires to produce an I/O Card, what agreement should it sign?
If a non-member company desires to produce SD Memory Cards, what agreement should it sign?
Will Licensees need to sign a new SDALA, SD-3C HALA, CLA or other agreement each time a revision or new SD Specification
is released?
How are disclosed Essential Patent Claims that cover higher levels and future versions of SDA Specifications to be
licensed?
What SD Specifications are mandatory or optional for SD Host Products?
Is implementation of the Part 3 (Security) mandatory for all SD Host Products or SD Ancillary Products?
When may an SDA member use the SD logo, SDA Application Designations, or SDA Pictographs?
Is verification of product compliance mandatory?
Are there any verification tools available from the SDA to assist in testing?
Whom should potential Licensees contact with further questions about licensing from SD-3C, LLC or SDA?
What is the structure of the Association?
How can my company become a member?
What is the duration of the membership?
Do I need to be a member of the SD Association in order to be a distributor or third party entity distributing other
members SD product?
Membership
What is the structure of the Association?
How can my company become a member?
What is the duration of the membership?
Do I need to be a member of the SD Association in order to be a distributor or third party entity distributing other
members SD product?
Other
How can I get more information on the Association?
General
What is the SD Association?
The SD Association is a global ecosystem of companies setting industry-leading memory card storage standards that simplify the use and extend the life of consumer electronics, including mobile phones, for millions of people every day. SD Association was formed in January 2000 by Panasonic Corporation, SanDisk Corporation, and Toshiba Corporation. Today, the Association is made up of about 800 member companies involved in the design, development or manufacturer of products using SD standards. The small, postage stamp-sized removable memory cards are used by hundreds of brands across dozens of product categories and found in thousands of device models. SD memory card and SD host device are the generic terms for any memory card or device built to SD standards. SD Association does not manufacture, market or sell any product; it creates standards and then promotes the adoption, advancement and use of SD standards used by competing product manufacturers that make interoperable memory cards and devices.
Return to Questions
What is the function of the SD Association?
The SD Association establishes the technical and specification standards for SD memory card applications, continuously promotes SD as the leading industry standard, and encourages the development of digital A/V, wireless communication, and digital networking products that utilize the many unique benefits of SD standards.
Return to Questions
How can the SD Association help me?
By becoming an SD Association member, you receive the latest information on SD standards allowing you to build products and solutions that conform to the standard and avoid potential compatibility issues. You also may participate in SD Association activities to help advance the future of SD technology.
Return to Questions
What are the benefits of SD standards?
SD is the leading standard for mobile phones, digital cameras, audio players, personal computers, printers, car navigation systems, electronic books, and many other consumer electronic devices. Many SD standards are available in a variety of capacities and speed classes: SDHC/SDXC and microSDHC/microSDXC. SD standards enable manufacturers to deliver high-performance products that simplify how millions of consumers capture and enjoy video, photos, and sounds every day. With SD standards-based products, consumers have the ultimate flexibility and convenience to store and share digital contents anytime and anywhere.
Return to Questions
Product
What specifications have been developed by SD Association?
SD Association standards and specifications include:
Standard Memory Cards (up to 2GB): SD, microSD
High-Capacity Memory Cards (above 2GB, 32GB and less): SDHC, microSDHC
Extended Capacity Memory Cards (above 32GB up to 2TB): SDXC and microSDXC
Ultra Capacity Memory Cards (above 2TB up to 128TB): SDUC and microSDUC
SDIO cards
SD Speed Class (Class 2, 4, 6, 10), UHS Speed Class 1 and 3 and Video Speed Class 6, 10, 30, 60, 90
Bus Speed: Normal, High and Ultra High Speed (UHS-Ⅰ , UHS-Ⅱ and UHS-Ⅲ), SD Express
Return to Questions
In what types of products are SD standards used?
SD is the leading standard for mobile phones, digital cameras, audio layers, personal computers, printers, car navigation systems, electronic books, and many other consumer electronic devices as well as some business solutions.
Return to Questions
How are the SD specifications developed?
The SD Association Technical Committee is made up of working groups focused on the development of next generation specifications.All members are allowed to participate in technical working groups but only Executive members are allowed to vote on the specifications.
Return to Questions
How can my company obtain the SD specification?
Your company may have access to the complete specification by becoming a member of SDA. If your company is in the R&D stages and requires the complete specification, it is available without membership by providing a signed Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) and payment of designated fees to the association for one year. If you plan to manufacture products, please visit our
Use and Licensing
section for more details and appropriate forms.
Return to Questions
Does SD Association have a product certification program? How do you get certified?
The SD Association offers a self-certification program to its members. The Compliance Committee recommends using the approved Test Specification which is made available to members in the Members Site. Members may locate additional information on compliance and testing under Compliance News in the Members Site.
Return to Questions
What is the SD Speed Class?
The SD Association has established standards that rate the minimum data transfer on the needs of companies creating video recording products that require certain writing speeds when recording the data onto a memory card. The SD Speed Class, UHS Speed Class and Video Speed Class standardized this for both memory cards and devices in order to guarantee minimum writing speeds and deliver the best performance.
Return to Questions
What are the applications for Speed Class?
Applications are listed on
Speed Class Page
.
Return to Questions
What is UHS-Ⅰ/UHS-Ⅱ/UHS-Ⅲ?
Ultra High Speed (UHS) defines bus-Interface speeds up to 104 MB/s for the UHS-Ⅰ, up to 312 MB/s for UHS-Ⅱand 624MB/s for UHS-Ⅲ. Bus speeds power data transfer speeds between SD host devices and SD memory cards. UHS is exclusive to SDHC and SDXC memory cards.
Return to Questions
What is the SD Express?
SD Express memory cards, serve as removable Solid State Drives (SSD), up to 3940 MB/s with PCIe technology with NVMe protocol maintaining UHS-I interface delivering speeds essential for high-resolution content applications such as super-slow motion video, RAW continuous burst mode and 8K video capture and playback, 360 degree videos, and mobile computing devices, gaming systems, multi-channel IoT devices, numerous automotive storage needs, to name a few.
Return to Questions
Licensing
Licensing Documents
Why do the SD-3C LLC and the SDA have different agreements?
SD-3C LLC and the SDA own different intellectual property, are separate legal entities and may collect fees independently. The SDA Board of Directors has determined it is appropriate for each organization to be responsible for agreements protecting their respective intellectual property and for any fees for using their intellectual property.
All new members (as of January 1, 2017) are required to complete the SDA Membership Agreement, and for those wishing to make SD products, the SD Association License Agreement (SDALA). New members wishing to make SD products should comply with the SD-3C LLC’s agreements, including the SD-3C LLC Host and Ancillary Product License Agreement(SD-3C HALA) and Card License Agreement (CLA). The SD-3C LLC can be contacted for more information on these agreements at:
admin@sd-3c.com
There may be other license agreements required for SD products from other third parties, (e.g., the 4C Entity, LLC for CPRM licenses).
Return to Questions
Has the License Agreement for SDA Memory Card Specifications (LAMS) agreement changed?
The LAMS agreement has been replaced by the SDALA and is no longer offered.
Return to Questions
What is the Card License Agreement (CLA)?
The CLA is a confidential agreement related to SD Memory Cards between the SD-3C LLC and the licensee. As the SDA is not a party to this agreement, it cannot provide any guidance. The SD-3C LLC should be contacted for more information on this agreement at:
admin@sd-3c.com
.
Return to Questions
What are the benefits of signing the current SDALA?
The SD Association License Agreement (SDALA) includes a royalty-free license for SDA members for products using SD Association intellectual property (e.g., the SD Association Specifications and pictographs).
Return to Questions
Do pre-2013 HALA licensees need to take any steps now?
The pre-2013 joint HALA was a three party agreement between the licensee, the SD Association, and the SD-3C LLC, covering both SD Association and SD-3C LLC intellectual property. To replace the license coverage following the expiration of the joint HALA, your company should execute the SDALA and the SD-3C HALA. You can contact the SD-3C LLC for more information at:
admin@sd-3c.com
.
Return to Questions
Are all new SDA members required to complete the SD-3C HALA?
The SD-3C HALA is a confidential agreement between the SD-3C LLC and the licensee. As the SDA is not a party to this agreement, it cannot provide any guidance. The SD-3C LLC should be contacted for more information on this agreement at:
admin@sd-3c.com
.
Return to Questions
What is the non-member Non-Disclosure Agreement (“NDA”)?
The non-member NDA grants potential licensees a one-year evaluation license to both the SD-3C-owned and the SDA-owned portions of the SD Specifications. The SDA and the SD-3C have combined their efforts to create the current version of the NDA (sometimes referred to as the Combined NDA) so that potential licensees need to execute only one document to obtain an evaluation license to all portions of the SD Specifications. This NDA does not provide any right for commercial use of the SD Specifications.
The NDA has a $1,000 administration fee. If your company becomes a member of the SD Association within ninety (90) days of the effective date of the NDA, then the SD Association will credit the $1,000 fee towards your membership.
Return to Questions
Is a license needed for CPRM?
The SD Specifications require implementation of CPRM for some types of SD Memory Cards.
If an SD Host or SD Ancillary Product will implement CPRM to record copyrighted content on SD Memory Cards, contact the 4C Entity, LLC (
www.4centity.com
) to determine your license requirements. As the SD Association is not a party to this agreement, it cannot provide any guidance.
Return to Questions
Do all SD cards support CPRM features?
No. Starting in 2018, SD memory cards can be produced without CPRM capabilities based upon the SD 6.10 specification version. This change reflects current market requirements with fewer content management restrictions. Japan still has more requirements where CPRM is used.
Return to Questions
What type of content protection technology is expected to be offered other than CPRM on SD memory card?
There is no plan to offer any new or different content protection features on SD memory cards. Application providers may implement proprietary content protection solutions using the card as a platform to store secured content.
Return to Questions
How can I identify CPRM and non-CPRM card?
The following symbol has been newly defined for the purpose of distinguishing SD cards without CPRM from those with CPRM. The use of this symbol on SD card package and Web/catalog is mandated in the Japanese market only.
As for the markets outside of Japan,
the use of this symbol is optional.