Hollywood still treating us like thieves in new release DVD download deal |
Loading ...Soon Now we’ll be able to legally purchase new release DVD movies for download at Movielink and CinemaNow, but hold your excitement, this will include a big asterisk via Business Week:
The downloaded movies would still come with several restrictions that underscore the difficulty of the new digital world for Hollywood studios. To keep from competing directly with large retailers like Wal-Mart, both sites for now are only allowing the movies people buy through downloads to be stored on PCs or on devices like the game player Xbox outfitted with certain Microsoft software. Movies can’t be “burned” or copied onto disks that can be played on other devices, such DVD players. The movies, however, can be copied to play on as many as two other PCs, says Ramo.
You’d think with this type of DRM the prices would be less, right? Wrong. $20-30 for newer films and $10-20 for older movies. More expensive than DVDs with more restrictions? No thanks, I’ll jump in the car and happily be storebound. This is a promising first step, moving closer to being able to get the movies without having to go to the store legally, but not being able to burn so it can play in any DVD player is a major drawback.
Nice try, Hollywoody, but you won’t get it until you stop treating your customers like thieves.
Hmm, could always use netflix or buy where any DVD’s are sold. Doesn’t look like much of a plus to me as a consumer. BTW - the video store is just down the street.
Comment by ^Lestat — April 3, 2006 @ 11:20 am PST
Rogers Cadenhead pointed out that this might serve a niche market for rare movies, but it seems to me more like tossing a bone to onliners rather than any serious attempt to make this model work.
Comment by Sterling Camden — April 3, 2006 @ 12:55 pm PST
[…] A couple days ago I lamented how disappointing it was to see the pricing of the new DVDS for download via Movielink and Cinemanow. Yesterday I experienced my concerns firsthand when I saw the DVD The Cave on sale at Best Buy for $9.99 and then last night stopped by Movielink and saw their price for the download of The Cave was $25.99. I could rent it for $4.99 which still seems too high to me. […]
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