I'm afraid I'm one of a small few that finds Warner Brothers deal announcement with Bittorrent a PR stunt. Maybe I'm wrong, maybe Warner really does need help distributing content via the Internet. Alan Wexelblat of Copyfight thinks WB might just be getting the message. "This is me sitting here, stunned. Yes, sir. Exactly. It's not about "smashing" "piracy." It's about luring away customers with a superior product. Trading existed before Napster burst onto the public consciousness and it still exists today. The difference is that today downloads of digital music make up a significant revenue stream. Next step - make that true for movies."
I agree that, done right, digital downloads could mean Internet gold for MPAA members. I just can't imagine how Bittorrent helps deliver anything like the superior experience of using iTunes. I'm also at a complete loss for what superiority there is in a reduced resolution, drm crippled video file without any special features or outtakes, or the packaging of a DVD.
"If iTunes taught you anything, it should be that the customer experience trumps everything else. But maybe the Cartel is finally swinging around to a more compatible and less combative point of view.", one can hope, but I'm not holding my breath.
via Copyfight
