Japan-based electronics maker Matsushita Electric Industrial is to test a movie rental system that combines DVD discs with file downloads. Besides Matsushita, Nikkei Business News said the trial will involve four other companies -- networking equipment provider Oki Electric, software maker Japan Wave, Internet cafe operator InterPia and systems developer PFU.
As part of the trial, InterPia will give out free teaser DVDs containing movie clips and other kinds of entertainment. To view the full content, users will have to pay between 300 yen (£1.5) to 500 yen to download the missing pieces from the Internet. The downloaded content will be erased automatically after a given time, thanks to built-in software.
This method of movie distribution could curb illegal copying of the DVD, as the disc does not contain the whole movie. At the same time, viewers are saved the hassle of returning the disc to the rental store. If the user wishes to watch the movie another time in the future, the movie will have to be downloaded -- and paid for -- again.
|