“Apple Computer is coming under pressure from some of Hollywood’s biggest movie studios to change the operating environment of its popular iTunes platform, amid growing concern about digital piracy,” Matthew Garrahan and Jonathan Birchall report for The Financial Times.

“The studios – Universal, 20th Century Fox, Paramount and Warner Bros – are in talks with Apple about making their films available for digital download on iTunes,” Garrahan and Birchall report.

Garrahan and Birchall report, “After months of discussion, a sticking point has emerged over the studios’ demand that Apple limit the number of devices that can use a film downloaded from iTunes.”

“‘We’re very willing to do a deal but we’re keen to get some concessions from Apple that will account for the differences between the value of music and television content and feature film content,’ …said one studio executive involved in the talks,” Garrahan and Birchall report.

Full article here.
Why don’t they just put visible and hidden markings on the files like they do for Oscar voters’ screeners? A big “PROPERTY OF UNIVERSAL” across every frame of the film would be nice. And a little audio voice-over stating, “PROPERTY OF UNIVERSAL!” every 30 seconds would be good, too. Along with mandatory upfront signed forms from each customer promising not to circulate the files or face prosecution and/or fines, of course. Aw, heck, why not just sell 90 minutes of black soundless content for $9.99-$14.99. That would work the best.

Related articles:
Disney sells nearly 500,000 movies via Apple’s iTunes Store in less than two months – November 09, 2006
Disney sells 125,000 movie downloads via Apple’s iTunes Store in first week – September 19, 2006