Disney Loses in Redbox Copyright Row (bbc.com)

Disney has lost a bid to stop movie rental company Redbox from reselling download codes for its films. From a report: Redbox bought Disney movies on DVD to offer for rental in its kiosks. The DVDs were often bundled with a code to download a copy of the film. Disney requested an injunction to stop the practice, saying that Redbox had no business arrangement with it. A California federal judge accused Disney of "copyright misuse." Redbox rents and sells movies via tens of thousands of automated kiosks that dispense DVD and Blu-ray discs.

Comments

Re:Copyright misuse?

[viperidaenz]

No, when they bought the DVD they bought two copies, a downloadable one and a physical one.

There's no other way to interpret it. Once you use the code, you can't give it to someone else when you give them the DVD. It's a separate copy.

Re:I wonder if this ruling creates precedent

[UnknowingFool]

No. Unlike what the title implies, Disney did not lose the case. Disney lost its motion for a preliminary injunction to stop Redbox from selling the codes. Next, the court has to address Redbox's motion to dismiss. If Disney loses that one, then they are closer to losing the case setting some precedent. If Disney wins, then there is still a court case to go through.