Download-to-own Films Coming Soon

riflemann writes "CNN is reporting that Universal Pictures will soon launch a service whereby films can be downloaded legally to own, i.e. non time-limited digital downloads. Currently most legally downloaded movies are time limited. Buyers will also receive a DVD version in the post. Is the movie industry finally listening? And how will they define 'own?'"

Comments

40$ for Kong?

[mrpotato]

That's way to expensive. These guys still don't get it. Designed to fail.

Re:40$ for Kong?

[ScrewMaster]

Yes, but in the process of failing they appear progressive, with the intent of deflecting criticism.

"You see, Mr. Congressman? We tried the newfangled approach and it just doesn't work, you can't sell things on the Intarweb, so we're going back to our old-fashioned screw-the-consumer oligopoly. We know we can make money with that."

Re:40$ for Kong?

[billcopc]

Man can I borrow your soapbox ? Looks like yours has a big built-in amplifier :)

Torrent networks don't "attack" things.. while it might be possible to add someone's IP to the list of tracked peers and generate bogus SYN traffic, it wouldn't accomplish much as Bittorrent clients are designed to initiate a connection less than once every 5 minutes to any given host or tracker.

Rewinding to the main topic, the only way to communicate to these media conglomerates isn't whining on /. or threatening to pirate their movies. We are dealing with business.. big business. The only language businesses speak is the language of money. Don't buy their stuff.. any of their stuff! Stop buying DVD movies, stop going to the cinemas, tell little Nicky he can shove his Harry Potter up his ass. Now I'm not saying this will hurt the company, but their bean counters will notice and those bean counters are the ones in power. They won't listen to our voice, but they will listen to our dollars.

The day common people understand the democratic power of money, is the day democracy will start working for everyone.

Re:40$ for Kong?

[mix4pix]

"Certain types of customers would love that sort of thing." Yeah, the ones with RAID arrays in their living rooms and time to watch hours and hours of un-color-corrected, noisy, botched takes. Hint: that footage didn't make it into the movie for a reason. While "providing all the original uncut footage" might be a wet dream for some fans, it would be horrible PR for the actors and director, and a total invasion of their privacy, not to mention COMPLETELY discounting the work of the editors, sound editors, visual effects guys, and music guys. The ONLY purpose of something like this would be to give the public an appreciation of what goes into making a film . . . something you seem to be lacking in as well.

Re:40$ for Kong?

[Jah-Wren Ryel]

Don't buy their stuff.. any of their stuff!

I disagree. You can buy their stuff and still put even more economic hurt on them than a simple boycott.

My strategy - buy used DVDs, buy them from rental stores for ~$5 a disc. Then lend them out to as many people as you can. I usually work at companies with mostly well-educated, well-paid employees. I lend my $5 used DVDs out to anyone who asks, after seeing another guy do it, I even keep an inventory of recent titles on my desk for easy borrowing.

These people are the studio's target audience - the single people have plenty of disposable income and the parents have kids which dispose of their income for them. When I lend out my $5 copy of Star Wars ep3 to 20 people over 3 months, that's at least 10 less people who would otherwise have paid money to rent or buy (I presume the other 10 just borrow it because its free, so no real loss of business opportunity there.)

For each $5, I am stealing (to use the MPAA/RIAA's favorite terminology) around $100 worth of business away from the studios and their associates (they've got 'revenue-sharing' deals with Blockbuster and Hollywood Video) and not only is it 100% legal, I also get to own the DVD of the movie too.

You might not think that just one guy can make a difference - that might be true, but if you check Blockbuster Video's financial status, you will see they are soo deep in the red that they will probably be bankrupt within 3 years, maybe sooner. I claim complete responsibility for that!

Own

[Eightyford]

How will they define own?

Ownership agreement:

You will not make backup copies of your files.
You will not have your files on more than one computer.
You may not share the files under any circumstance.
You may not playback the movie to more than 5 people.

Re:Own

[ErikTheRed]

How will they define own?

See: Pwn3d

Still too much

[paiute]

$35? It won't take off until it goes below $20.

More expensive than normal DVD's.

[O'Laochdha]

Let's face it, most downloaders aren't in it for the convenience. Whether it's an ideological beef with the MPAA, lack of funds, or just plain stinginess, most people don't want to pay for these movies. This might catch on among people who don't feel like going out to the store or waiting for it to come via online stores, but it's not going to curb illegal downloading.

Re:More expensive than normal DVD's.

[temojen]

Let's face it, most downloaders aren't in it for the convenience.

BitTorrent is much more convenient that learning Japanese and moving to Japan just to watch cartoons...

Their FAQ is funny

[grub]

Heh, from their FAQ:
Broadband internet connection recommended.

+9000, Duh

Re:So when...

[ozmanjusri]

So when should we expect to see download-to-own software?

Now. http://www.fsf.org/