"Digital Copies"

[gh4chiefs]

The DRM kills the feature for me.
You can only use it once, within a year of the movie coming out, and if your system dies or you delete the file, you're SOL.

At that point, you might as well download an HD version of the film and call it a day.

I was all set to argue with you, but then I decided I probably misunderstood what you meant. After re-reading it, I assume you mean you can only download it once, and it has to be done within a year of purchase.

I recently bought The Incredible Hulk on blu-ray and it had a digital copy. I just spent several minutes going through the fine print and it doesn't say anything about dl'ing only once, but it does say the code for Itunes may be invalid after 10/31/09.

 

[firehawk12]

Each company has their own DRM. I know with Fox DVDs, it is a download token that you can only use once to unlock the digital copy on the DVD and they include the language "we are not responsible for any data loss", which implies that the user is left on their own if something happens to their authorization key file on their computer.

I mean, it's technically the same thing with iTunes music that's DRMed. Apple has the right to laugh at you and tell you to rebuy all your music, it's just that if you're someone like Wil Wheaton, they'll give you all your music back.

I suppose the idea of doing a digital copy isn't necessarily a bad idea and they need to prevent people from sharing files, I just don't want to have to worry about wiping out my PC and losing all my license files.

Now, if movies were distributed on a service like Steam where everything is tied to a master server and I can change computers every day and still have access to the content? That might be something.

 

[Hermiod]

I've only tried the Digital Copy stuff once, on Hancock, a Sony film. With that, it connected to the Internet, downloaded a key necessary to decode a MPEG4 video file that was already on the disc, decrypted that and I was left with a completely non-DRM'ed file I could play on my PC or my PSP. I suspect that if I'd tried it would play on my iPod as well.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

Each company has their own DRM. I know with Fox DVDs, it is a download token that you can only use once to unlock the digital copy on the DVD and they include the language "we are not responsible for any data loss", which implies that the user is left on their own if something happens to their authorization key file on their computer.

I mean, it's technically the same thing with iTunes music that's DRMed. Apple has the right to laugh at you and tell you to rebuy all your music, it's just that if you're someone like Wil Wheaton, they'll give you all your music back.

I suppose the idea of doing a digital copy isn't necessarily a bad idea and they need to prevent people from sharing files, I just don't want to have to worry about wiping out my PC and losing all my license files.

Now, if movies were distributed on a service like Steam where everything is tied to a master server and I can change computers every day and still have access to the content? That might be something.

But they really don't need to protect it from file sharing. Just look how easy stuff ends up online even with the DRM in place. If they trusted their customers a little more, and stopped investing heavily in copy protection then maybe people would be more inclined to buy online. I know since Play and Amazon started selling straight up MP3 files I've bought a lot more stuff than I would have ever considered off iTunes.

 

[firehawk12]

Oh yeah. Hopefully it won't matter 10-5 years from now, which is how long it took the music industry to get their act together.

I've only tried the Digital Copy stuff once, on Hancock, a Sony film. With that, it connected to the Internet, downloaded a key necessary to decode a MPEG4 video file that was already on the disc, decrypted that and I was left with a completely non-DRM'ed file I could play on my PC or my PSP. I suspect that if I'd tried it would play on my iPod as well.

But can you get the key and unlock the file on another computer? (Which would be the same as formatting your current computer and starting over).

 

[Hermiod]

^I have not tried.

 

[JediKnightButler]

Interesting side note: Although not relating to movies specifically, iTunes apparently has begun making DRM-free music videos available and plan on making their entire music catalog DRM-free. It is quite possible that DRM-free movies or "digital copies" are not too far behind.

 

[Hermiod]

^To be honest, I doubt. Even though DVD copy protection is ridiculously easy to break, the movie studios still insist upon it.

 

[Jim Steele]

Fair Use Wizard shits its way through everything I throw at it for my needs. Ripping a DVD I own for my own personal use is no different to copying a CD to your MP3 player as far as I'm concerned. DRM heavy "digital copies"? Pah.

Besides, I'm all about the bluray now.

I know since Play and Amazon started selling straight up MP3 files I've bought a lot more stuff than I would have ever considered off iTunes.

Damn straight. I love Amazon's DRM-free service. It's cheap, the files are at a decent bitrate, and their catalogue is as good as any other service I've used (iTunes and Napster, mainly).

 

[Amaris]

Amazon's not doing DRM either?
I quit buying from there because of the ridiculous level of DRM they employed, mainly after losing about $60 in music because it wasn't "authorized".

J.

 

[Jim Steele]

Amazon UK's service is DRM free at least, I know that much for sure.

 

[Hermiod]

Amazon UK's service is DRM free at least, I know that much for sure.

So is America's these days - ordinary MP3s.

 

[Stone_Cold_Sisko]

Yup, amazon is just straight mp3s with no added restrictions. It's pretty great.

 

[Jim Steele]

I thought as much, but I've only used the UK service so I didn't want to speak outside of my experience.

J you should totally get back on the Amazon service. I got a Paul Robeson collection, a Tom Lehrer best of, Dresden Dolls: No Virginia and Who Killed Amanda Palmer? for just over £15. That's what HMV are charging for the last one on its own in the shops!