The 28 day hold may not be a big deal in the long run but explaining that to 100's of customers who are on hold for it in the short term is another thing. And yes the removal of additional material is a big minus for libraries. It's one I'm not going to stand for.
"Warner Home Video has announced that it may seek to enforce its new policy by auditing its distribution partners' sales. Additionally, Warner may require retailers, like Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and Target, to limit the number of copies of a new release that may be sold to a single customer." Really?! This is too funny. Yes, online purchases will most likely be restricted to 3 copies per customer at the major's (Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart.com, etc). However there are 100s of reputable DVD retailers online that will be selling these titles--how many of them do you think are "distribution partners'"?? Do you really think that a cashier at Target is going to care if you are buying 5-25 copies of a title? Even if they do so what? Buy your 3 and move to the next store if you need 25+ like me. Or better yet buy 3, go back in the store and find another cashier and buy 3 more. The big losers in this deal are the folks at Midwest Tapes and other "distribution partners'" who us librarians rely on to deliver product in a timely fashion and in many cases pre-processed so we may get the product to our eager customers on street dates. It's a HUGE inconvenience to us, but if you want the retail edition make a point of buying it from retailers/distributors that will sell it to you (even if it is just 3 at a time...) It's a crappy policy, and hopefully Warner will realize the error of their ways and also follow Fox's failed experiment and abandon it promptly. If not, just continue to buy those retail copies where you can. Warner (or anyone else) cannot dictate first-sale doctrine to us and what we do with our copies (but they sure can make it inconvenient to get them). Myles Jaeschke Tulsa City-County Library Media Collections -----Original Message----- From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu [mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of Jessica Rosner Sent: Monday, October 10, 2011 6:48 PM To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu Subject: Re: [Videolib] Warner Bros. to Delay DVD Release I find it hard to believe WB only releases 12 films a year though I doubt more than 30. I am not a librarian but the 28 hold in exchange for a cheaper copy does not seem that terrible to me, but I have a big problem with not being able to get extras ( thought that is no mentioned here) Honestly given that it is so few titles it seems like it might be worth some kind of organized library protest as it not be very hard to just by a copy or two at a local retail outlet. On Mon, Oct 10, 2011 at 6:18 PM, Ralph Tomlinson <rtomlin...@olatheks.org> wrote: > Just received this from Midwest Tapes: > > > > We have recently learned that Warner Home Video will no longer distribute > theatrical releases to libraries or home video rental stores until 28 days > after they release the movies for sale at retailers. This Warner Home Video > policy applies to all public libraries and video rental outlets such as > Redbox, Netflix, and Blockbuster. > > In addition to being released 28 days after the retail version, Warner's > rental version DVDs and Blu-rays will not contain bonus features or extras. > However, we understand that there will be a significant price reduction for > these products, apparently amounting to an average $4 per DVD title and $8 > per Blu-ray title. > > Warner Home Video has announced that it may seek to enforce its new policy > by auditing its distribution partners' sales. Additionally, Warner may > require retailers, like Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and Target, to limit the > number of copies of a new release that may be sold to a single customer. > > Please note that Warner's new policy will only impact titles that have a > theatrical release, perhaps amounting to about 12 titles per year. > Non-theatrical Warner releases will not be affected by this policy. > > Below are the first three Warner theatrical titles affected. Note that > Warner's rental versions will feature rental artwork. > > > > > > > > Ralph Tomlinson > Audio-visual/reference librarian > Adult Services > Olathe Public Library > 201 E. Park Street > Olathe, KS 66061 > (913) 971-6850 > rtomlin...@olatheks.org > > First 3 DVDs mentioned in the release are: Crazy Stupid Love, Harry Potter > and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 and The Hangover Part 2. > > > > Seems like not that long ago some studios were discussing simultaneous > release. Letter-writing campaign, anyone? > > > > > > > > > VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues > relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control, > preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and > related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective > working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication > between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and > distributors. > > -- Jessica Rosner Media Consultant 224-545-3897 (cell) 212-627-1785 (land line) jessicapros...@gmail.com VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and distributors. VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and distributors.
