A group of filesharers have put together a document outlining how film studios and download services can put an end to piracy by meeting their demands.

With pricing, choice and digital rights addressed, the comprehensive manifesto was put together by 20 web professionals at a digital technology conference in Geneva.

Hand on heart

"I promise never to illegally download a movie if there was a legal alternative following the criteria on this page…" begins the site.

It goes on to require clear and fair pricing, wide-ranging language options, instant ad-free availability, global release dates and DRM-free files.

Driven by a love for movies, the manifesto is a bit of a utopian dream. Media moguls and rights holders from competing studios and content distribution companies are unlikely to put such a flat process in place.

Deep-rooted issues

Regardless of viability, the manifesto serves as a fair assessment of the problems in the digital media industry driving people to piracy and proves that many are willing to pay for digital media.

So far, 1,607 people have signed the manifesto.

Pierre Spring, one of the leaders of the movement, said: "I hope 'Don't Make Me Steal' will show the movie industry that people who love movies are just waiting for them to leave their legacy business models and embrace the digital distribution."

http://www.techradar.com/news/internet/ ... acy-926257

Know what'll be more of a challenge than getting this idea off the ground? Getting some films that are worth paying for

No mention of regional restrictions which is my main gripe.

IIRC, only BRs from certain companies have region-coding*, HD-DVD (remember that?) didn't have any at all, and DVDs/BRs can sometimes be bought multi-region/region neutral

* A big release like TDK doesn't seem to be coded, going by the box

Region coding is my main gripe. Though if you exclude that they will still price it badly. You only have to see the problems with iTunes and show rentals. The networks and studios will want far more for digital ownership than most people are willing to pay. So will still end up pirating.

I didn't realise BD discs were region protected TBH. I know PS3 discs work internationally, and most of the BD discs I own are Region 0.

As for this proposal, my biggest grip is DRM TBH. I hate that I can download something through, say, iTunes, but only use it in iTunes on an "authorised" computer - I can download a free copy and play it back through whichever program, device and, crucially, operating system I choose.

I have no experience with BR. If there are no regional restrictions then that is a good thing.