Hollywood afraid of Microsoft 266
prostoalex writes "Associated Press claims that media industry has been quietly avoiding Microsoft and trying to keep the movie and music industries to their own. However, these days there's little chance of doing business without Microsoft and the movie studios are afraid of digital piracy more than they're afraid of Microsoft. The biggest fear? Microsoft will use its desktop PC monopoly to charge Hollywood outrageous fees and basically own the movie industry. Microsoft refutes the accusations, saying that it's only interested in selling more copies of Windows and applications for its platform, and providing movie content would promote the platform. Also noteworthy that among the four video-on-demand services that New York Times reviewed recently two that got the journalistic acclaim (StarzTicket and CinemaNow) are run by technology companies - Real Networks and Microsoft."
Yes, MS is the only bad guy here, no really... (Score:3, Interesting)
Well of course it can't as it has been proven time and time again that it is indeed buggy and exploitable. It seems to me that the current methods for playing movies in theatres works pretty damn well and it isn't exactly as if MS' deals are going to make distribution inexpensive enough to become attractive.
Yet Microsoft can't quite shake fears that its real intention is to use its monopoly position to charge Hollywood outrageous fees to access the computer desktop.
They charge everyone else astronomical licensing fees and speculation that it will only get worse is running rampant - probably justifiably so. Would they really cut Hollywood such a sweet deal as to protect them forever from licensing fees that would make this cost prohibitive? I doubt it. I would really like to know exactly how MS is trying to sell this to them.
To be honest though, I am fairly impressed that Hollywood is actually making a stand and telling them off. I don't know too many other businesses that would be so wary.
That is one hysterical comment that was only for the benefit of those that won't RTFA.
Re:Polish in the Right Places (Score:5, Interesting)
Hollywood and microsoft (Score:5, Interesting)
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* I'm not claiming any special insider knowledge of how Hollywood studios work. This is my guess based on my experience of how big corporations work in general.
** If they have brains. Or hearts. Or courage. All of which are highly debatable.
Re:Hollywood and microsoft (Score:1, Interesting)
Of course it does as they are profit-based entities. They like to make money and lots of it.
Do you really think that there is some free alternative to what MS is offering that will come with the backing and support that MS is likely willing to offer as part of their "deal"?
I think that money for the technology has only a part to do with why the studios are uninterested in dealing with Microsoft. They are uninterested because they fear that MS will then completely control what happens with the content they create on the medium.
Oh, you need an auto update, ok, click through this EULA which will give us an even larger percentage of your profits.
They brought this on themself (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:If Hollywood had their way... (Score:5, Interesting)
no selling of their software on EBay.
no ownership of the software after you purchase it (they really own it you just license it from them)
I guess MS has two outputs: Software and bugs?
Re:Hollywood and microsoft (Score:3, Interesting)
Are you telling me there's been any genuinely significant improvement in Microsoft Office in the last 5 years?
Re:The BBC isn't afraid... Hollywood could help th (Score:4, Interesting)
Yes, well, I'll believe it when I see it. The BBC is funded by the British taxpayer to the tune of GBP 2.5Bn (that's around USD 4Bn) per year. All the material they produce WE ALREADY OWN. I should be able to download - or at least, buy for the cost of the media alone - anything produced by the BBC ever, simply by proving that I've paid the TV tax (which I have). Instead, the BBC is off on some ivory tower "let's invent a new format" wild goose chase.
There are already squillions of codecs. The BBC should just pick one and get to work encoding its video archives for download. Dirac is nothing but procrastination.
Re:The enemy of your enemy is your enemy (Score:5, Interesting)
I think this is the case. I fear they would not exterminate each other, but most likely one would emerge the winner, and we the public would be the biggest losers. Better to let them stay wary of each other while we run an underground movement to defeat both opponents at once.
MSNBC? (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Without the Internet, where would Free SW be? (Score:5, Interesting)
It has had zero effect for the public.
Sorry, it has had the effect that some software made it back to the community, so it has had an effect on a very small margin of the public after all.
Re:What are the odds? (Score:2, Interesting)
Watching a movie and seeing a C:\ prompt on a monitor emblazoned with the Apple logo just bothers me.
Re:Correct me if I am wrong- (Score:1, Interesting)
Re:Polish in the Right Places (Score:3, Interesting)
Kiss your Internet GOOD BYE ! (Score:2, Interesting)
The new revised Internet sequel, Internet 2 coming to a PC near you is a fully censorship based controlled media. Enjoy the old free Internet now while you can.
http://www.newswithviews.com/public_comm/public_c
Although I am enjoying liberal Hollywood taking a beating for dumping their nonsense leftist movies on us, Microsoft would be worse. MSNBC is a failure. (MS = Microsoft)
Ths new Internet 2: Censored, should make Microsoft our official Censorship Czar for the U.S.A. (*sigh*)
Changing In-Movie Ads (Score:2, Interesting)
I'm sure the DVD releases will replace all those ads with self-serving ads, like previews fro the newest "Studio ABC" release, or simply a shout out to their own company! I'm still sick of all the product placements from "Minority Report" and I feel it's only going to get worse. . .
Macintosh and the movies (Score:3, Interesting)
I've often wondered what underlying politics within the movie industry drives this trend, as it certainly is no coincidence.
Dan East