Warner Offers Cheap DVDs In China To Combat Counterfeits
from the didn't-expect-that dept
Considering the entertainment industry's standard response to unauthorized copying of content and counterfeit products, it's quite surprising to see them actually respond to the issue via pricing, rather than legal means. Usually, the industry uses its lobbying efforts or lawyers to exert pressure on those involved or (in foreign countries) to put pressure on local governments to "crack down" on the counterfeiters. However, Warner Home Video is apparently recognizing that the issue can't just be solved this way, and has realized that it's a market perception problem. Their products are simply too expensive. With that in mind, they'll be offering super cheap DVDs in China soon after the theatrical release. The movies will be priced around $2.65, which is more than the standard $1 the counterfeiters charge, but still much lower than the standard price. They're hoping that the better quality and the legitimacy will make it worthwhile. Who knows if it will work, but it's nice to see them at least recognize that price is an issue in all of this.
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
No Subject Given
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: No Subject Given
Region Coding
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: No Subject Given
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: No Subject Given
As another poster said in a previous discussion:
Price & cost are two different things.
If the consumer is not willing to pay the price than its a bad product.
Warner Bros LOWERING their price just means that theitrr disks were too high for the average Chinese consumer & therefore they bought the illegal alternative.
Don't run right out & buy something right after its released ... six months later you can pick it up for 1/3 to 1/2 in many cases.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: No Subject Given
[ link to this | view in chronology ]