Hollywood Upset At Newspapers For Daring To Give Away DVDs It Licensed Them To Give Away

from the oh,-boo-hoo dept

Fri, Aug 18th 2006 3:23pm — Mike Masnick

Comboman writes "Hollywood claiming 'lost revenue' from declining DVD sales is nothing new, but this time the alleged culprit is not piracy but UK newspapers and magazines that give away free DVDs with certain issues. Nevermind the fact that the publications legally paid for the UK distribution rights to these films that were near the end of their profit cycle anyway. Once again, instead of embracing an alternative distribution method, Hollywood only sees it as "devaluing the format in the eyes of consumers". Heaven forbid they would be forced to sell DVDs at fair price." Yes, that's right. The movie studios licensed the newspapers to give away the DVDs. They got paid for it. Now they're complaining that in giving away these DVDs, the newspapers are "devaluing" DVDs. And you wonder how the industry has stayed in business this long.

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

32 Comments

If you liked this post, you may also be interested in...

Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread

Monarch, 18 Aug 2006 @ 3:30pm

First thing to look out for..,
New copyright legislation preventing the you from transfering your license to the content of the DVD without written permisison and authorization from the copyright holder!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- user, 20 Aug 2006 @ 1:36pm
  
  Re:
  next they will make you use dvd genuine advantage online to check to see if it was sold to you!
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Monach, 18 Aug 2006 @ 3:32pm

2nd: To the Trolls out there who want to just blast First post, notice how I incorporated it into an on topic subject. Maybe the trolls will start thinking of ways to make it interesting to read =)
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Mark Kitchen, 18 Aug 2006 @ 3:44pm
  
  Amazing
  It's comical to hear of these situations. I agree with Mike, How has the industry not imploded yet?
  
  BTW Monarch, You're not licensed to use the word "First". ;)
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Inmate #9237348-843, 18 Aug 2006 @ 3:51pm
  
  Re:
  The fact that you have to point out how clever and witty you allege to be, contridicts any wit or intellect you may have actually exhibited.
  
  We still think you're a moron.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Wizard Prang, 21 Aug 2006 @ 8:13am
    
    Who is this "we" of whom you speak?
    At least he had something to say...
    
    It is so amusing to watch the antics of a dying industry with an outmoded business model. If these DVDs had any value, they would be sold at that value. The fact that they were give-aways shows that that value is essentially gone.
    
    Memo to Studios: It is the market that sets the value of your products - NOT YOU.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
NumbNuts, 18 Aug 2006 @ 3:50pm

Head Assplode
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Cheeky, 18 Aug 2006 @ 3:52pm

Pretty soon the industry will be crying foul if you fart after buying a movie with a fart in it.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Sunshine Boy, 18 Aug 2006 @ 3:58pm

Hey Inmate: And you aren't a moron? Try addressing the original item next time instead of sniping at a poster like a semantics professor.
Back to topic: If the industry wanted those DVDs sold for a fair price, they should have written the contract with some limitations in it. If that isn't legal to do for some reason, the best way to save face is to keep the lower half of it shut.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Inmate #9237348-843, 18 Aug 2006 @ 4:04pm
  
  Re:
  Hey Sunshine Boy...
  
  Nevermind. I think the name says it all.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - CJ, 19 Aug 2006 @ 4:51pm
    
    Re: Re:
    Heh, Sunshine Boy and Inmate...
    
    You two met in a community shower, didn't you.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Eric, 18 Aug 2006 @ 5:00pm

WTF?
Are the same three 80 year old guys running the movie and music industries? Jack Valenti bitching about video tape killing the movie theaters in the 80's proves that it's time to fire these old bastards and get some younger blood in there. Shit, I'm 54 years old and I'm sick of these old assholes.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Fabrizio, 18 Aug 2006 @ 5:15pm

Sounds like they want the cake and to eat it too (or in this case sell it)
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- johnypcguru, 18 Aug 2006 @ 9:40pm
  
  Re:
  Sounds like they want you to buy their cake, then they get to eat it. Then they crap it out and sell you that too and when a vendor starts giving it away as fertilizer samples, they'll cry that their product is being "de-valued".
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
rijit (profile), 18 Aug 2006 @ 7:01pm

Bah, nothing new there. The MPAA is all about control and profits. Let's hope the keep on the same road they are on, they will implode in a few more years, or the pirates will put them out of business(so they claim).
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Kyros, 19 Aug 2006 @ 12:41am

i am embarresed...
I am ashamed that these people are allowed to live in my country....really, we need to stop spending so much money of fighting drugs and spend it on fighting stupidity.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Concerned Individual, 20 Aug 2006 @ 2:14pm
  
  Re: i am embarresed...
  You spelled embarrassed wrong...should I...should I fight you?
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Drugs, 19 Aug 2006 @ 4:51am

It's sick...
Before this whole Iraq war B.S., the U.S. had spent more money on 'The War On Drugs' than on all monies put into all wars combined.

It's enough to make you sick if you really sit and think about that.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
CoolCliftop, 19 Aug 2006 @ 6:20am

What was the topic
Man this thread is all over the place. Folks thowing flamers and bitchin about the the MPAA right into the war on drugs and Iraq. Now where was I? Oh Yea!

Look the MPAA is run by the same mob that is running the RIAA. These guys are crooks and the only they care about is profit. They don't care about the product, the artist or the customers. The sooner we consumers can run them outta business the better
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Ap, 19 Aug 2006 @ 7:46am

Had the MPAA done due dilignece before the sale to the UK paper, they would have known what the buyer's plans for the product were. Now they claim the product has been devalued but if they knew what the buyer was going to do (and if they are really in the business they claim to be in and if their attorneys actually have licences and degrees, then they had to know how their product was to be used in order to protect themselves from secondary liability) then they knowingly overcharged the UK paper for the product since they knew it was going to be devalued by the final distribution scheme. The selling studio should give the buying newspaper some money back.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
chris, 19 Aug 2006 @ 8:06am

all of this is on a time table
the incumbent content industries are on a time table. the days of making obscene profits are coming to a close and so they are tryng to milk as much money as they can before the average person figures out what crooks they are.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Robert Wilson, 19 Aug 2006 @ 11:32am

Not RIAA
The first problem with this is that references to RIAA are a misnomer. It is a facade that the studios such as Sony, Warner Bros. and others use to protect their good name. I wonder which studios are trying to pull this fast one? Bait and switch has taken on a new meaning it appears. I hope the newpapers take them to the cleaners!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- John Bailey, 19 Aug 2006 @ 1:59pm
  
  Re: Not RIAA
  Would be nice if it was Fox. The same company that owns the UK Sun newspaper... which has been known to give away free DVDs.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
derfaust, 19 Aug 2006 @ 12:14pm

DVDs are becoming outdated....just like the printed newspaper(these guys are getting desperate....).....seems like a smashing idea to join the two together.....(subtle sarcasm).....
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Crossbones, 19 Aug 2006 @ 4:49pm

haha
Hollywood is mostly liberals...what did you expect?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
kerry, 19 Aug 2006 @ 7:52pm

hollywood morons....they're all freakin stupid.
make a stupid tax, then tax the hell out of the stupid people and then just maybe, with some luck mind you, they won't act so completely like the morons that they are.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 19 Aug 2006 @ 8:38pm

Whats wrong?
As a Hollywood "content producer" I really don't see a problem with making you consumers pay for my crap over and over again. Why is that such a problem with you people!!?!?!?!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Wizard Prang, 21 Aug 2006 @ 8:16am
  
  Smile when you say that' pardner...
  ... and tell us your name, whydontcha?
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Ryan, 20 Aug 2006 @ 10:48am

The MPAA has no right to take away our drugs! Oh, wait... why am I talking about drugs? The article had nothing to do with drugs, yet for some reason, I still feel the need to bitch about the drug war. Please forgive me for filling these few lines with yet another pointless lecture aimed at peole who cannot seem to post on topic. I know you have an opinion and really want to get it out there, and we feel ya. Just try and keep comments related to the subject matter of the article. All other posts go elswhere. Besides, when exactly did the MPAA get involved in the drug war anyhow? Boycott DVDs and the drug war will end! Sounds ridiculous, doesn't it?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Robert, 21 Aug 2006 @ 6:15am

Hollywood upset?? Where does it say that?
I may have missed something, but the article really doesn't state what the techdirt headline says?? It does say that "some hollywood studios are opposed" to the distribution, but it certainly doesn't say what the headline alludes to!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Chuck Norris' Enemy (deceased), 21 Aug 2006 @ 8:13am

Quality Movies
In a different story a while back on Techdirt about DVD's with newspapers a post mentioned that most of the movies were pretty bad, mainly ones they show on Saturday afternoons (or even worse, Sunday afternoons). Plus I think Walmart already devalued these movies...about$3.88 piled in the big cardboard box in the aisle.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Chuck Norris' Enemy (deceased), 21 Aug 2006 @ 8:15am
  
  Quality Movies (cont.)
  It did help me get my Naked Gun Trilogy for about $10, though.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]