Digital copy
Encyclopedia
Digital Copy provides consumers who purchase a film on DVD
or Blu-ray Disc
with an additional, digital copy of the movie for devices capable of operating with a file
in contrast to a DVD.
(DRM) systems and technical parameters are used for the digital copy file. Digital Copy systems based on existing pregenerated files are less flexible than dynamic transcoding
solutions.
Digital Copy files based on existing files include only one audio track and no subtitles
, although the DVD
itself may have multiple audio tracks and multiple subtitles
. Also, the quality is limited by the bitrate
used to encode the file which is typically relatively low and not adjusted to the device to be transferred to.
Digital Copy files based on transcoding solutions can use the correct audio track and subtitle
based on the user's location or choice and individually create the digital copy based on the target device properties (video and audio bitrate, display resolution
, aspect ratio
) of the target device.
Most often, Digital Copy solutions offer Windows Media
or Apple iTunes
files with their respective DRM
services, Windows Media DRM
and FairPlay
. Newer solutions also provide support for Sony
PlayStation Portable
and phones using 3GP
video files and Open Mobile Alliance
DRM. Some publishers limit their digital copies to Microsoft operating systems and devices. Apple computers and devices are not supported by their digital solution.
To limit the number of free digital copies, the disc typically comes with a single-use code to authenticate a computer over the internet. Alternatively, content owners can offer the Digital Copy feature as a paid service.
Often the authentication code has an expiration date rendering the copy invalid if unused before this time.
. Gartenberg was critical of Sony for restricting themselves to files for the PlayStation Portable that were not widely compatible with more popular personal media devices.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation
described Digital Copy schemes as
"stealing your fair use rights and selling them back to you piecemeal" disputing claims
by Hollywood studios that it is illegal for customers to rip a personal copy of a DVD to put on a portable video player, even if they own the DVD.
He references Jon Healey of the Los Angeles Times
who describes the situation as
consumers being asked in the case of DVDs to pay more for uses they had before at no extra cost with CDs and cassette tapes.
Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols of ComputerWorld.com describes the "Digital Copy" as nonsense, a feature that is no feature at all. He criticizes it as an attempt by the industry to sugar coat DRM, complaining that viewers should be able to watch the movie they have already bought on any device they want, and that media companies should change their business plans to meet their customers' legitimate needs.
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
or Blu-ray Disc
Blu-ray Disc
Blu-ray Disc is an optical disc storage medium designed to supersede the DVD format. The plastic disc is 120 mm in diameter and 1.2 mm thick, the same size as DVDs and CDs. Blu-ray Discs contain 25 GB per layer, with dual layer discs being the norm for feature-length video discs...
with an additional, digital copy of the movie for devices capable of operating with a file
Computer file
A computer file is a block of arbitrary information, or resource for storing information, which is available to a computer program and is usually based on some kind of durable storage. A file is durable in the sense that it remains available for programs to use after the current program has finished...
in contrast to a DVD.
Features
There are two types of digital copy. The first is a copy already made in advance and included on the disc. The second is created dynamically from the DVD content itself. In both scenarios the publisher decides which content, formats, digital rights managementDigital rights management
Digital rights management is a class of access control technologies that are used by hardware manufacturers, publishers, copyright holders and individuals with the intent to limit the use of digital content and devices after sale. DRM is any technology that inhibits uses of digital content that...
(DRM) systems and technical parameters are used for the digital copy file. Digital Copy systems based on existing pregenerated files are less flexible than dynamic transcoding
Transcode
Transcoding is the direct digital-to-digital data conversion of one encoding to another, such as for movie data files or audio files. This is usually done in cases where a target device does not support the format or has limited storage capacity that mandates a reduced file size, or to convert...
solutions.
Digital Copy files based on existing files include only one audio track and no subtitles
Subtitle (captioning)
Subtitles are textual versions of the dialog in films and television programs, usually displayed at the bottom of the screen. They can either be a form of written translation of a dialog in a foreign language, or a written rendering of the dialog in the same language, with or without added...
, although the DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
itself may have multiple audio tracks and multiple subtitles
Subtitle (captioning)
Subtitles are textual versions of the dialog in films and television programs, usually displayed at the bottom of the screen. They can either be a form of written translation of a dialog in a foreign language, or a written rendering of the dialog in the same language, with or without added...
. Also, the quality is limited by the bitrate
Bit rate
In telecommunications and computing, bit rate is the number of bits that are conveyed or processed per unit of time....
used to encode the file which is typically relatively low and not adjusted to the device to be transferred to.
Digital Copy files based on transcoding solutions can use the correct audio track and subtitle
Subtitle (captioning)
Subtitles are textual versions of the dialog in films and television programs, usually displayed at the bottom of the screen. They can either be a form of written translation of a dialog in a foreign language, or a written rendering of the dialog in the same language, with or without added...
based on the user's location or choice and individually create the digital copy based on the target device properties (video and audio bitrate, display resolution
Display resolution
The display resolution of a digital television or display device is the number of distinct pixels in each dimension that can be displayed. It can be an ambiguous term especially as the displayed resolution is controlled by all different factors in cathode ray tube , flat panel or projection...
, aspect ratio
Aspect ratio
The aspect ratio of a shape is the ratio of its longer dimension to its shorter dimension. It may be applied to two characteristic dimensions of a three-dimensional shape, such as the ratio of the longest and shortest axis, or for symmetrical objects that are described by just two measurements,...
) of the target device.
Most often, Digital Copy solutions offer Windows Media
Windows Media
Windows Media is a multimedia framework for media creation and distribution for Microsoft Windows. It consists of a software development kit with several application programming interfaces and a number of prebuilt technologies, and is the replacement of NetShow technologies.The Windows Media SDK...
or Apple iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
files with their respective DRM
Digital rights management
Digital rights management is a class of access control technologies that are used by hardware manufacturers, publishers, copyright holders and individuals with the intent to limit the use of digital content and devices after sale. DRM is any technology that inhibits uses of digital content that...
services, Windows Media DRM
Windows Media DRM
Windows Media DRM is a Digital Rights Management service for the Windows Media platform. It is designed to provide delivery of audio and/or video content over an IP network to a PC or other playback device in such a way that the distributor can control how that content is used.WMDRM includes the...
and FairPlay
FairPlay
FairPlay is a digital rights management technology created by Apple Inc., based on technology created by the company Veridisc. FairPlay is built into the QuickTime multimedia software and used by the iPhone, iPod, iPad, Apple TV, iTunes, and iTunes Store and the App Store. Formerly, all songs in...
. Newer solutions also provide support for Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
PlayStation Portable
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
and phones using 3GP
3GP
3GP is a multimedia container format defined by the Third Generation Partnership Project for 3G UMTS multimedia services. It is used on 3G mobile phones but can also be played on some 2G and 4G phones....
video files and Open Mobile Alliance
Open Mobile Alliance
The Open Mobile Alliance is a standards body which develops open standards for the mobile phone industry.- Principles :Mission: To provide interoperable service enablers working across countries, operators and mobile terminals....
DRM. Some publishers limit their digital copies to Microsoft operating systems and devices. Apple computers and devices are not supported by their digital solution.
To limit the number of free digital copies, the disc typically comes with a single-use code to authenticate a computer over the internet. Alternatively, content owners can offer the Digital Copy feature as a paid service.
Often the authentication code has an expiration date rendering the copy invalid if unused before this time.
Reception
Tech industry analyst Michael Gartenberg described this initiative as "a smart move" providing an easier alternative to customers compared to converting the files themselves using software such as HandBrakeHandBrake
HandBrake is a general-purpose, open-source, cross-platform, multithreaded video transcoder software application. HandBrake was originally developed by titer in 2003 as a general-purpose video transcoder to make ripping a film from a DVD to a data storage device easier...
. Gartenberg was critical of Sony for restricting themselves to files for the PlayStation Portable that were not widely compatible with more popular personal media devices.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation
Electronic Frontier Foundation
The Electronic Frontier Foundation is an international non-profit digital rights advocacy and legal organization based in the United States...
described Digital Copy schemes as
"stealing your fair use rights and selling them back to you piecemeal" disputing claims
by Hollywood studios that it is illegal for customers to rip a personal copy of a DVD to put on a portable video player, even if they own the DVD.
He references Jon Healey of the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
who describes the situation as
consumers being asked in the case of DVDs to pay more for uses they had before at no extra cost with CDs and cassette tapes.
Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols of ComputerWorld.com describes the "Digital Copy" as nonsense, a feature that is no feature at all. He criticizes it as an attempt by the industry to sugar coat DRM, complaining that viewers should be able to watch the movie they have already bought on any device they want, and that media companies should change their business plans to meet their customers' legitimate needs.
External links
- Digital Copy from Disney
- Digital Copy from Fox
- Digital Copy from Lionsgate
- Digital Copy from Paramount
- Digital Copy from Sony Pictures
- Digital Copy from Universal
- Digital Copy from Warner Bros.
- Digital Copy Feature in iTunesITunesiTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....