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UltraViolet Digital Movie Locker is Shutting Down (theverge.com)

Posted by msmash on from the for-the-record dept.

UltraViolet, one of the entertainment industry's first attempts at creating a comprehensive digital locker service, is shutting down on July 31st. Users should link their libraries to the service of at least one retailer which can then be used to access their films and TV shows after the shutdown. From a report: UltraViolet's days were numbered ever since Disney, the only major Hollywood studio not to join, launched its expanded Movies Anywhere locker service in 2017. Not only did it offer broad studio support, but it could also be connected to major digital retailers like iTunes, Amazon, and Google Play, unlike UltraViolet. Additional resources: How to safeguard your UltraViolet library.

5 of 66 comments (clear)

  1. How to safeguard by Alypius · · Score: 4, Informative

    The best way to safeguard your library is to rip the disc. This is just the latest service to go under or change their TOS.

    1. Re:How to safeguard by dgatwood · · Score: 3, Informative

      I have the discs, my Ultraviolet codes came with the physical disc and just gave me a nice way to access the content while traveling on a business trip if I found myself bored and with some time to kill.

      The problem is, IIRC, they charged a premium for the versions with the codes, so a lot of people got suckered out of real money for something that is now useless. I'm betting the class-action lawyers are already salivating.

      --

      Check out my sci-fi/humor trilogy at PatriotsBooks.

  2. Re:Sadness by kbonin · · Score: 3, Informative

    I suspect the real reason for its failure is more than just Disney not playing along, its more likely that most studios are now preparing their own walled gardens and are allowing any contracts that require them to play nice just expire. Studios want physical media to die so they can charge for their own streaming, and most consumers don't mind getting that 5 Mbps stream instead of 24 Mbps for Blue-ray or 25 instead of 128 Mbps for 4k UHD. Not to mention the data cap/NN elephant. As always, consumers lose, and arrgghh for the win!

  3. Re:Physical Media FTW! by Yaztromo · · Score: 3, Informative

    FWIW, while you can't really buy a new 3D capable TV, the PlayStation VR can be bought new and can still display 3D movies.

    It's a different experience -- but you get a much bigger virtual TV size (the size is selectable, but at the largest size is like being at a movie theatre). Plus it will output the 3D signal to a 3D TV, and can automatically output a 2D image to a 2D TV while the VR headset is in use.

    That may or may not be your cup of tea, but it is something you can buy today that will play and display 3D BluRay discs.

    Yaz

  4. If you don't have a DRM-free copy by Casandro · · Score: 3, Informative

    You might as well have no copy at all. Fortunately DVDs and BluRays are easy to rip. Funny enough lots of people seem to share that opinion if you look at sales figures which go up once simple ways to rip became available.