You're viewing an article in iPO's historic archive vault. Here, we've preserved the comments and how the site looked along with the article. Use this link to view the article on our current site: Apple and Fox Announce Digital Copy for iTunes

News

iPO at MWSF - Apple and Fox Announce Digital Copy for iTunes

Tuesday, January 15th, 2008 at 3:00 PM - by

SAN FRANCISCO - During the Macworld keynote address, Twentieth Century Fox and Apple announced the Digital Copy for iTunes. Customers who purchase selected DVDs will be able to effortlessly copy the movie to iTunes and the view it on a PC, Mac, current generation iPods, iPhone or on Apple TV.

"One of the most requested features DVD buyers have been asking for is the ability to get the movies they bought into their iTunes library,” said Jim Gianopulos, chairman and chief executive officer of Fox Filmed Entertainment. "We’re thrilled to offer such an incredibly simple way for our customers to get even more out of their DVD purchase, and we look forward to releasing many more DVDs this year with iTunes Digital Copy."

Mr. Gianopulos, the chairman and chief executive of Fox Films Entertainment was introduced on stage by Mr. Jobs and received a warm reception to his humorous and charming presentation.

"Now movie fans can easily transfer a free copy of the movie they purchase on DVD into iTunes," said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. "DVDs containing an iTunes Digital Copy allow movie fans to get a copy of their movie which can be viewed on a computer, iPod, iPhone or on Apple TV."

"Once a customer buys the DVD, they insert it into their computer, enter a unique code into iTunes and iTunes automatically copies the movie to their iTunes library within minutes. Customers own the iTunes Digital Copy of the movie and it has all of the same great viewing options as other iTunes Store video content, including the ability to be viewed on a computer, iPod with video, iPhone and Apple TV. Each DVD will only transfer its iTunes Digital Copy to one iTunes library," according to Apple.

The first DVD to offer this new feature is the Star Wars parody.Family Guy Presents: Blue Harvest

6 comments from the community.

You can post your own below.

+ show options

Your current settings, click to change: Sort Oldest First, Show Guest Posts, Hide Community Stats

A guest said: (hide)

Tue Jan 15, 2008 4:37 pm

What about the hundreds of titles we already own "licenses" to enjoy for "home use"?

Quote this post ↓

A guest said: (hide)

Tue Jan 15, 2008 5:14 pm

Yes! This was the biggest problem with the Apple TV, IMHO. iPods never would have been popular if iTunes didn't make it so easy for people to import their CDs into their computers to use on their pods. Apple TV has this problem. If all studios did this today, then it would be worth it to own an Apple TV in a few years.

I agree with the other comment, what about the existing DVD collections. I personally have quit buying DVDs for this and other reasons.

Now, any time spent in front of the boob tube is time better spent playing WoW...

Quote this post ↓

gslusher said:

member since 13 Nov 2002 with 2088 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Tue Jan 15, 2008 6:17 pm

Guest wrote:
What about the hundreds of titles we already own "licenses" to enjoy for "home use"?

Right! What about the hundreds of titles I already own on cassettes and LPs? Why can't I get a free digital version of each of those? What about the thousands of books I already own? Why can't I get Kindle versions of those free? After all, I own a "license" for that content.

Quote this post ↓

A guest said: (hide)

Wed Jan 16, 2008 12:01 am

There's nothing preventing you from recording your LPs or cassettes into MP3 - in fact that's what programs like Final Vinyl are for.

This development makes it easier to import some DVDs into iTunes, without having to use other software such as HandBrake.

Quote this post ↓

A guest said: (hide)

Wed Jan 16, 2008 12:03 am

Some Blu-Ray movies already include iPod/mp4 versions, a nice feature which saves on ripping/conversion time.

Quote this post ↓

gslusher said:

member since 13 Nov 2002 with 2088 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Wed Jan 16, 2008 12:54 am

Anonymous wrote:
There's nothing preventing you from recording your LPs or cassettes into MP3 - in fact that's what programs like Final Vinyl are for.

This development makes it easier to import some DVDs into iTunes, without having to use other software such as HandBrake.

Perhaps you missed the sarcasm. Re-read what I wrote. I was showing how absurd it is to whine like a petulant four-year-old about not getting free digital copies of DVDs one already owns. The other Guest (perhaps you are the same one--who can tell?) also doesn't understand what licensing is about. One buys a license for content in a particular format, not for the content in any format. (The license is also for only particular uses of the content. For example, if you play copyright music on a radio show, you have the legal obligation to obtain permission and, if required, to pay royalties. Just owning the CD isn't enough.)

Quote this post ↓

Post Your Comments

  Remember Me

Not a member? Register now. You can post comments without logging in, but they'll show up as a "guest" post.


Please enter the word exactly as you see it in the image above. Registered users aren't prompted for this. Having trouble reading the image get a new one.