Pulling movie downloads


License requirements mean that that release may not be there when you want it
Here's one I didn't know, but it explains a lot.

... And the culprit here is a system that for decades has pumped billions of dollars into the coffers of Hollywood studios and the television industry. What has happened is Apple and Netflix have crashed into windows. "Release windows" is the term used to describe periods of time a certain type of media is allowed to show a movie. Typically, a feature film is first released in theaters, then on DVD, followed by pay-per-view channels and finally on broadcast TV.

Normally, release windows don't affect retailers or video-rental services after they've begun selling or renting films. Warner Bros. doesn't go into Best Buy and pull DVDs off the shelf when Comcast airs Casablanca. The corner Mom and Pop video store doesn't surrender copies of Gladiator to Universal Studios when the film appears on ABC. But Internet stores are being treated differently. What this means for iTunes and Netflix customers is that movies will pop in and out of the services.

Spokesmen for Netflix and Apple confirmed that they pulled titles due to these licensing requirements.

The big question many Apple and Netflix fans will have is why are Web stores being treated as though they are entertainment companies instead of merchants?

The answer, of course, is because broadcasters say they are.

I think Hollywood doesn't understand where their markets are.

— NeoWayland

Posted: Sat - December 13, 2008 at 01:07 PM  Tag


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