Michael Knutson
01-31-2011, 08:00 AM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/11/01/28/studios_shift_from_dvd_to_itunes_to_distribute_oscar_nominees.html' target='_blank'>http://www.appleinsider.com/article...r_nominees.html</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"Movie studios are seeking to distribute their award nominated films to Academy and Screen Actors Guild voters using Apple's iTunes rather than conventional DVDs, in hopes of limiting piracy of the pre-release films."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/at/auto/1296457360.usr17748.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p>How can movie studios distribute Oscar nominated films to the nearly 100,000 members of the screen actors guild, without (as in the past) unauthorized copies appearing everywhere? Rather than burning DVDs, adding watermarks, chasing down illegal copies, etc; the latest plan is to distribute them via iTunes, using restricted rental codes, with the rental having a limited lifespan. Time is up, this copy self-destructs. While still not fool-proof, it is a step forward, as seen through the eyes of the studios and SAG. Will there ever be a real solution for this problem?</p>