Disney and Microsoft Join Forces to Safely Distribute Web Movies

The Walt Disney Co. and Microsoft announced today a cooperative initiative to speed the distribution of movies, television shows, and other digital content. Through a multiyear agreement, Disney plans to license Windows Media digital rights management technology, a program that prohibits audio/visual content from being illegally copied.

Hoping to sell its movies via the Internet by the end of this year, Disney wants all of its digital content available for viewing by all types of consumers and outlets including cell phones, personal digital assistants, and portable media players.

“Our shared goal is to ensure that consumers will have access to great content on many different devices…without having to worry about compatibility issues,” stated Microsoft senior VP Will Poole, in a statement to the AP. “Together we aim to prove that the distribution and consumption of digital media can be done in ways that benefit everyone.”

Because the process is similar to that of music file sharing, Hollywood executives have been hesitant to release films over the Web. Due to unlawful copying and transferring of musical content, the music industry has suffered with its CD sales. So, Disney decided to take matters into its own hands and implement some much needed protection technology.

“They (Disney) don’t want the film industry to go the way of the music industry,” said Poole in a Reuters report.

Currently, Disney sends and licenses movies on the Internet with the assistance of both Movielink and MovieBeam services.

Financial terms of the nonexclusive deal were not disclosed

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