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Universal Pictures Tries To Beat Counterfeiters At Their Own Game In Russia
from the cheap-and-early dept
We've gone over the numerous ways that movie studios can compete against things like movie downloads, but what about counterfeit DVDs sold on the street? In many cases, these DVDs sell because there's really no alternative. That's why it seemed to make sense for studios to try releasing movies on DVD at the same time they're released in the theaters. However, Aaron deOliveira points us to a fascinating experiment by Universal Pictures over in Russia, where counterfeit DVDs are seen as a very big issue for the movie industry. Rather than sending out their own fake police force to rough up street vendors, they're actually competing by selling "Cheap'n'early DVDs". These are DVDs that come out much sooner (four weeks) after the movie is released, but the quality (and the price) are much lower. A few months later, the studio comes out with the full version of the DVD release -- much higher quality with lots of extras. In other words, the cheap and early DVDs are clearly just to compete against the counterfeit DVDs on the street. It's still not entirely clear why they need the separate release windows rather than just giving people a choice, but it does seem like an interesting experiment.
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I wonder how these guys are doing...
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Re: I wonder how these guys are doing...
So basically they're saying in addition to voice over, sub titles and a much shorter release window, prices will be 600% cheaper in China than in North America. WTF they're milking us silly or what. This is CRIMINAL and they dare sue the pants off regular Americans for using P2P to subvert their extortion?
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Re: suing Americans for using P2P
Most of those IP address in the 81.x.x.x - 84.x.x.x range ARE in CHINA. The rest are North America, the UK, and most of Eastern Europe (not neccessarily in order)
try this: http://www.arin.net/whois/index.html
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Re: Re: suing Americans for using P2P
That's exactly my point, dude. Why are entertainment cartels adjusting their prices and release windows to seduce Chinese consumers, but suing people downloading their 600% over priced content here? Could it be that they've taken control of laws, distribution channels and are able to freely price fix their products? Could it be that they aren't able to take such controls in other countries and thus are competing as they should?
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Re:Could it be that they aren't able to take such
Will Interpol really show up at your door after repeated Emails from your ISP reporting downloading of copyrighted materials? Ten years and $250,000 in fines. Get real.
Look at all the infringement lawsuits lately... Apple/iPod, Blackberry/RIM, etc... who actually gets hurt these days? the consumer - right in the wallet!!!
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in soviet russia, torrent downloads you!
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Separate release times
It's still not entirely clear why they need the separate release windows rather than just giving people a choice, but it does seem like an interesting experiment.
Separate release times are simple. The average consumer (no matter where he, or she is) will end up purchasing their DVDs twice.
Looking back at the DVD releases of “The Lord Of The Rings.” How many people out there bought the initial release, the one DVD (I believe it was a single DVD) box that came out six months before the “four DVD box set?” I know I did, and a lot of other people.
The studios realized from this marketing scheme that they could in essence “double dip” from the average consumer, thus significantly increasing their profits. When they did this, they also hit the used market hard (something they have tried to kill for years), because no one wanted the “single DVD” when you could get the “four box set for just a little bit more.” (alright about twice the price, but never the less, you get my point)
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Piracy
Hey, the way I see it is that antything on the 'Net should be free. I pay my ISP for the access to the Web, NOT for its content.
Reminds me of my post yesterday about FREE wireless web cellphones - "If people want it bad enough, they WILL pay for it!!"
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Re: Piracy
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Separate Release Windows and Cheaper Prices
"Hey, if its not cheap enough, I'll steal it from you! That'll teach you a lesson!" Just don't buy the shit, people! It's like a drug-addict holding up his pusher, robbing him because his drugs are too "pricey", and thinking it'll all work out in the end. Dumb... dumb, dumb, dumb... dumb!
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Re: Separate Release Windows and Cheaper Prices
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Re: Separate Release Windows and Cheaper Prices
Well it seems to be working, in China, doesn't it? Nothing wrong with capitalism, except when its out of control or rather has taken control of policy and free market competiton.
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Tin the head
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Not an original idea (again)
To counter the loss the publishers eventually published 'Taiwan-only' versions of the manuals, priced to undercut the pirates ...
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Re: 'Taiwan-only' versions
I was once unable to to locate a manual (lost while moving) for my fax machine, and the manufacturer said they would replace the copy - provided I paid for it. $15 bucks for a 22 page manual ~! I think not. After doing numerous Google searches, I was able to locate a .PDF for the manual - without paying for it.
Whether its music, movies or software, someone WILL find a way to get it for free.
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Re: Re: 'Taiwan-only' versions
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Re: Re: Re: 'Taiwan-only' versions
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Re: Pirated Vista
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Just get on with your boring lives and stop worrying about china!
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Re: Boring
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Video Games
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Hope they win
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That would prove or disprove once and for all the theories of what helps and what hurts IP business.
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Re: I wait...
What you didn't know? The entire world is trying to screw former soviet states out of their desirable oil and before that it was their weopons aresenal. The hell with RIAA/MPAA monopoly billionaires, I hope they get it up the back with a long one.
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Maybe after that we will have access to our broadcast channels. As it stands we are locked out by big money.
My biggest fear is that more and more regulations happen, and we all get locked oout of the internet. As I see it the internet should be free of legastation regarding content and use.
And same goes for software...
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IT IS ALL ABOUT ACCESS stupid!
Just walk into a store and buy it.
It is all about access and these industries have not kept up with how fast the news spread about their products.
Instead of investing all their money into legal fees they should spend it on marketing AND distribution.
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This is clearly the case in Russia wherein big firms in the movie industry though that competing with the illegal DVD copies in Russia would be more fruitful rather than seizing these fake goods. Let us just hope that this strategy would work.
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BEAT THE PIRATES
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Film Distributors "Pull a China" tactic
They have chosen to beat the competition "to the punch" and drink the bowl dry no doubt!
Studios can quality down all they have to and secondary market is GOOD...esp women will want the REAL movie version over the lower quality "outlaw style" version.
Men would be just as happy with the "pirated style version except for the FEATURES and their ladies wanting the BEST for the second viewing! Absolutely BRILLIANT! And nobody gets their nose bloodied!
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Film Distributors "Pull a China" tactic
They have chosen to beat the competition "to the punch" and drink the bowl dry no doubt!
Studios can quality down all they have to and secondary market is GOOD...esp women will want the REAL movie version over the lower quality "outlaw style" version.
Men would be just as happy with the "pirated style version except for the FEATURES and their ladies wanting the BEST for the second viewing! Absolutely BRILLIANT! And nobody gets their nose bloodied!
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PIRACY AT ITS FINEST
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