
Recently, a long awaited technology was announced that will let people burn downloadable movies to DVDs, representing a potential milestone in the development of online movie services.
Sonic Solutions Inc. of Novato, Calif., said it has one approval for its technology, which makes it possible for people to record homemade DVDs containing the same copy protection found on professionally made DVDs.
The approval came after prolonged negotiations with the DVD Copy Control Assn., a conglomerate of movie studios, electronics companies and computer makers.
As with any new technology, the Sonic Solutions Qflix software will take time to have an effect on the entertainment market.
Jim Taylor, a Sonic Solutions Senior Vice-President, said consumers would need special DVD burners and recordable discs that use its technology, although the discs would play on standard DVD players.
Those products probably won't appear in stores until early next year, he said.
Electronics manufacturers such as Pioneer Corp. and PC maker Dell Inc. have announced support for the technology.
The major Hollywood studios have insisted on anti-piracy protection identical to that offered on DVDs before they would permit online movie services to let consumers make copies of mainstream movies.
"Sonic is perfectly positioned for this to happen," Taylor said.
Learn more about
online movie rentals.

Labels: downloadable movies