Toshiba said Tuesday it has abandoned its initial plan to launch High-Definition DVD players in Japan by the end of this year, due to a delay in implementing copy-protection measures. Toshiba is not able to release its HD DVD players at present because the relevant copy-protection management system, or advanced access content system (AACS), has yet to be finalized by the DVD Forum, a global organization that sets and promotes DVD standards. The DVD Forum, which has adopted HD DVD as the next-generation optical disc format, regards AACS as an integral part of the HD DVD format.