Buyers warming up to digital copy, especially on Blu-ray
by Richard Lawler 
posted Mar 31st 2009 at 10:34AM
Studios are reporting the number of digital copy activations has risen even more over the last few months. Numbers are skying highest on Blu-ray discs, with The Dark Knight reaching a 20% transfer rate, compared to 10%-12% on the DVD release. That's no real surprise if you figure anyone buying high definition editions of their favorite movies is more likely to have a portable device or additional PC they'd like to copy the movie to, and studios are picking up on digital copy as a feature that customers might actually value, as opposed to free movie tickets and rebates that typically go unredeemed. Video Business mentions Sony and Fox are moving towards digital copy only on the Blu-ray releases of upcoming movies, and including more flicks the additional copy embedded on disc as opposed to requiring a download. All that's well and good, but really we're still wondering what happened to the managed copy dream that was supposed to take care of all this.
Filed under: Blu-ray
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
mitchelljd @ Mar 31st 2009 10:59AM
i think the managed copy idea is one which would need a blu-ray drive on your computer.
Right now in the interm, as blu-ray drives are not on many computers. and notably apple has been stonewalling its introduction, having a dvd with the content for immediate installation seems to be what the industry is settling on.
i am hoping that progress will be made and the blu-ray discs will be able to have digital copies and... more ... blu-ray needs more players and market penetration for that to come my bet. until then digital copy will live on a dvd or as a download.
ack154 @ Mar 31st 2009 11:18AM
This crap again?
If they're going to offer these digital copies, they need to offer a version without it. That way I'm not spending any extra money on something I don't care about.
mitchelljd @ Mar 31st 2009 8:07PM
exactly, I'd much rather get a Blu-Ray movie without it and have a lower price.
Digital copy is being used to justify $35-40 list price.
pretty lame.
Upthewazzu @ Mar 31st 2009 11:18AM
I don't find them usefull at all since they don't play on my Zune. Does anyone know of a program that will convert them???
Jeff @ Mar 31st 2009 11:27AM
If these aren't DRM'd then handbrake is a good open source program to convert videos to other formats. Another good alternative although not free is tunebite.
Ben @ Mar 31st 2009 12:18PM
I like digital copy. It allows me to keep a copy in the living room on blu ray and have a copy on my network accessible to other areas of the house (mostly the 24" iMac in my bedroom doubling as a TV).
I only wish that they would package a higher definition digital copy.
Ordeith @ Mar 31st 2009 2:08PM
You could already rip the movie and do that anyway.
Jeff Klawiter @ Mar 31st 2009 12:20PM
I'm liking the disney blu-ray's that come with the bonus DVD copy. We've bought Pinnochio and Sleeping Beauty recently. We're able to have a family "Movie Theatre" as the little one puts it on the entertainment center but then she's still able to go watch it in her bedroom on her DVD player if she wants. I'm still hoping we one day get the hybrid DVD/Blu Ray discs.
As for the digital copies, I'd be fine with them if I were able to burn a DVD with the quality of a DVD from it. That way I can get the benefits I explained above. Blu Ray isn't everywhere and it will be a long time, if ever, till it has the penetration that DVD does
Brent @ Mar 31st 2009 1:25PM
I don't mind Digital Copy being bundled with new movies. The production cost of these is probably very low, and I tend to doubt they pass that cost onto us anyway. It's nice to have something you can easily import into iTunes and watch on your laptop since we know it's a lot easier on the battery to play from the hard drive than a DVD. I think especially with blu-ray it's a good idea between many people not having blu-ray laptops or very many good tools for ripping a blu-ray it offers a copy for a laptop to watch on the road. For DVDs it's nice for the non tech savvy folks that don't know how to decrypt a DVD and create files in Handbrake.
shamon @ Apr 1st 2009 12:45AM
I am a huge fan of this and cant wait to buy more movies that has the digital copy . it better then going to videora and doing the converter thing .
vegetafr20 @ Apr 1st 2009 7:49PM
more PSP compatible digital copies please
1