As most of you know, iTunes has launched their movie downloading service… but hold on to your hats… it appears they aren’t allowing people in Asia to access the service. It appears their main concern is over movie piracy in that part of the world.
The guys over at Cinematical give us this:
their new services are not available in Asia, and there’s a good chance it will not be available anytime soon, if ever. Currently the music-only iTunes software has versions in Japan and Australia, but it isn’t clear whether they will be given access to the new movies.
This is sort of understandable… but at the same time a very valid point is raised:
The #1 thing on the planet that curbed the music piracy problem was the launch of iTuens music service. Perhaps releasing iTunes in Aisa for a REASONABLE PRICE (the $15 for a new movie is still too expensive) it would do wonders for helping to decrease the demand for pirated movies. Just a thought… but one they should really think about.
so do you know if the UK are going to get the movie and tv show download facility and if so when will this be?
John, it decreased North American piracy of music, not Asian piracy of music. In the streets of China, you cannot buy a real dvd; their stores publicly sell pirated dvds for $2-3 and as low as 50 cents Canadian. iTunes would have to release movies for $5 or likely less to even get close to getting the rich to do so for moral reasons. This will never happen.
I’m not sure I agree. I don’t think it’s fair that a single area is being singled out but the bottom line is that the real problem isn’t the folks buying but the folks who market and sell the contraband. I can see your point but I truly believe that as long as the contraband is cheaper and available, many folks will probably be more inclined to just buy it than to legaly download it (especially considering the limitations of the current download services).