The difference between Asian and Latin "pirates". In one case I know, a girl bought "Soul Surfer" in Ecuador, came home and opened it, and found that the movie inside was cam corded in a theatre! No subtitles, no features, just a poor quality analog copy of the movie.
I've never seen a downloadable digital movie that wasn't DRMed. The "instant" videos on Amazon you refer to are DRMed and DVD quality. Mainstream Pop songs are non-DRMed, but in reduced quality (MP3) compared to a CD. As far as I have seen, Bluray quality movies are only available on physical media. This seems to fit the business strategy an MPAA rebel publically espoused (somebody help me remember the name) where if you keep producing high (technical) quality content at the limits of technology, and are jealous of infringement on that, then you can be looser about lower quality versions.
DRM is another issue. I have no problem with it in rental situations, but you aren't really "buying" DRMed titles. It is more like a long term rental, and they really shouldn't be able to say "buy" in the ads. I do completely understand why movies are currently all DRMed (other than buying a physical DVD where the DRM is effectively moot).
Authored Comments
"The DVDs are of similar quality."
The difference between Asian and Latin "pirates". In one case I know, a girl bought "Soul Surfer" in Ecuador, came home and opened it, and found that the movie inside was cam corded in a theatre! No subtitles, no features, just a poor quality analog copy of the movie.
I've never seen a downloadable digital movie that wasn't DRMed. The "instant" videos on Amazon you refer to are DRMed and DVD quality. Mainstream Pop songs are non-DRMed, but in reduced quality (MP3) compared to a CD. As far as I have seen, Bluray quality movies are only available on physical media. This seems to fit the business strategy an MPAA rebel publically espoused (somebody help me remember the name) where if you keep producing high (technical) quality content at the limits of technology, and are jealous of infringement on that, then you can be looser about lower quality versions.
DRM is another issue. I have no problem with it in rental situations, but you aren't really "buying" DRMed titles. It is more like a long term rental, and they really shouldn't be able to say "buy" in the ads. I do completely understand why movies are currently all DRMed (other than buying a physical DVD where the DRM is effectively moot).