Download-to-own Films Coming Soon

riflemann writes "CNN is reporting that Universal Pictures will soon launch a service whereby films can be downloaded legally to own, i.e. non time-limited digital downloads. Currently most legally downloaded movies are time limited. Buyers will also receive a DVD version in the post. Is the movie industry finally listening? And how will they define 'own?'"

wait, what?

[gcnaddict]

Universal Pictures is doing this?

...and the MPAA hasn't responded yet? It's taking the MPAA this long to respond to a dangerous "piracy" issue?

Their FAQ is funny

[grub]

Heh, from their FAQ [lovefilm.com]:
Broadband internet connection recommended.

+9000, Duh

First movie

[ltwally]

"King Kong" will be the first film available as part of the new service.

Great... so they chose the one movie that no one pirated. I can see the headlines now, "LEGAL MOVIE DOWNLOADS OFFERED, YET PEOPLE STILL CHOOSE PIRACY!!"

Seriously, I hope they pay me to download this crap... I know it sure isn't worth my money, or even watching for free, for that matter

Re:Own

[ErikTheRed]

How will they define own?

See: Pwn3d

Re:Own

[Eightyford]

Where did you get this from?
OR
if you are making this up, how the hell did it get modded up so high?

The latter, and I have no idea. ;)

Re:More expensive than normal DVD's.

[temojen]

Let's face it, most downloaders aren't in it for the convenience.

BitTorrent is much more convenient that learning Japanese and moving to Japan just to watch cartoons...

So when...

[Anonymous Coward]

should we expect to see download-to-own software?

Re:No emailing?

[patio11]

Their security feature was making it multiple gigabytes, which neatly stops most people from mailing it. Now, P2P networking, on the other hand, still working on that one. But email is definately out as a pirate method. So is hand-transcribing to papyrus, and nailing to the back of a squirrel.

Would you copy a car? Anti MPAA message.

[twitter]

Imagine a high contrast, grainy filmed NYC residential street. A woman walks along and is approached by another.

Second Woman: Nice Purse!

Cut to a parking lot with a man getting out of his 1978 Monte Carlo. Another man sees him and approaches. Things are dirty, dark and gloomy.

Second Man: Nice car!

Flash Words: Would you copy a car? Would you copy a purse? Cut back to parking lot, things are looking brighter.

First Man: You really like it?

Second Man: Yeah, it rocks. Can I have one?

First Man: Sure, dude, it won't cost me much.

First Man takes his keys out of his pocket, pushes a button and makes a second car appear. Scene is now full color.

Flash Words: Of course you would copy a car if you could!

Cut to Street, things are looking brighter here too.

First Woman: I've got lots of these, have one.

First Woman reaches into her purse and pulls out an identical purse.

Second Woman: Cool, thanks a lot.

Both make big smiles at each other.

Flash Words: Sharing Is Good!

Cut back to parking lot. The second car shimmers oddly.

Second Man: Wow, thanks, that's really cool but it's not quite like the first one. What's up?

First Man: Oh, my car has DRM. I can only make five copies and the copies are not perfect. In fact, my own car has a limited life and I have to constantly pay to enjoy it. Sometimes it does not work at all.

Second Man: Bummer, dude, you got ripped off. Thanks anyway.

Run Words: You would not put up with restrictions on your car, would you?

Flash Words Separately: -DRM- -IS- -WRONG-

End with Words: Don't be owned. Share your culture.

Re:wait, what?

[xiao_haozi]

I think you mean the Windows Vista Super Golden Premium Edition at 300 x 250 resolution.

Heres how they will define own

[hyperbotfly]

And how will they define 'own?'"

Own: When the DRM rootkit is installed on your computer, you just got "pwned".