Movielink licenses technology to sell downloads to burn to DVD

First time downloads can be played on standalone DVD player

18 July 2006 11:14 GMT / By Amber Maitland

Movielink is one step closer to offering download-to-own movies that can be played on a standalone DVD player.

The video download site has signed an agreement with Sonic to license its DVD-on-Demand technology.

But Movielink's content providers, which include major movie studios, still have to approve the plan to let customers burn their own movies to watch on the TV.

This may not be the obstacle that it seems at first to be because Movielink is owned in a joint venture with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Universal Studios, and Warner Bros.

Therefore the new agreement with Sonic must already have the backing of these movie industry players.

Part of the licensing agreement includes Sonic bundling the Movielink Service within its Roxio CinePlayer and other software applications.

"We are anticipating an industry resolution to establish rules for converting secure Internet-delivered Movielink downloads into a secure format compatible with DVD players in the market today", said Jim Ramo, CEO of Movielink.

"This gives consumers a more flexible product while providing copyright holders with adequate protection of their content."

"Our relationship with Sonic is a critical advancement and will enhance the value of our service, along with the capabilities already available, by allowing customers to burn and playback movies on standard DVD players."

Full tags

Home Cinema, Video downloads, Movielink, Sonic