BBC news is reporting that film company Universal will soon be offering digital copies of films alongside DVDs. With service partners Lovefilm and AOL, users will be entitled to two copies of a film alongside a physical DVD copy; one for PC, and one for a portable device.
The service appears to require a Windows PC system, and hints at WMV based DRM software. Users, as such, will not be able to play the content on their iPods, or (easily) on Linux. Users will also be unable to burn the digital version to DVD.
Whilst movie download services exist already in the UK, the content selection is limited, and composed mainly of older films. The first 'blockbuster' films to be offered on this service will be King Kong and Pride and Prejudice, each costing £19.99. Unlike existing download programs, the digital copy does not have an expiration date.
Whilst Universal are to be commended for taking a step in the right direction, we can't but wondering if they've missed the point. Surely the incentive for offering films online is not just the convenience for the consumer, but rather, the reduced cost for the producer? Clearly, they've done the sums and decided that forcing people to pay for a DVD
and letting them have a digital copy on top makes them more money. Regardless, the option of just downloading the film would surely be more attractive to this audience.
The other problem is the DRM. The most popular portable media device in the world, by far, is the iPod. Whether the decision to go with Microsoft's DRM model reflects the on-going politics between Apple and the media companies (
side note- iTunes' contract with the music companies is being re-negotiated this month) is unclear. Strangely, NBC, owner of Universal, recently signed a deal to get NBC content onto iTunes, like TV show
The Office. Regardless, the companies have made a serious mistake by not offering iPod Video users the option of accessing the content. Media players aside, the rights management once again treats users like criminals in restricting them from doing what
they want with the content they've purchased.
The service launches in the UK on 6th April.
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