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This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2
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Topic: Veronica Mars day and date home release, studio renting auditoriums, etc
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Terry Lynn-Stevens
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1081
From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Dec 2012
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posted 04-09-2014 12:49 AM
Now Veronica Mars Backers Want Refunds, and They’re Getting Them
Last Friday, many backers of the Kickstarter campaign to fund the new Veronica Mars movie made an unexpected, and unwelcome, discovery. In order to access the digital version of the movie promised as a reward, they learned, they’d have to sign up for an account at Flixster—and even then, they’d only be able to stream the movie, not download it.
On the one hand, this wasn’t new information—the original Kickstarter campaign FAQs clearly identified Flixster as the source of the digital version—but it was enough to enrage many who hadn’t realized this was going to be the case, with the thwarted fans taking to social media to complain about their problems trying to watch the movie.
In response, Veronica Mars creator Rob Thomas updated the campaign page on Friday, writing, “If you paid for a copy of the movie a year ago, we don’t want you to have less choice and freedom than people who decide to buy it today” and adding that all those behind the production “definitely don’t want you to end up paying twice just to see the movie on your preferred service.”
To that end, Warner Bros is reportedly offering a $10 refund to those who backed the campaign but are unhappy with the digital option, with that amount increasing if backers provide proof of purchase of an alternate version of the movie.
In statement released to the L.A. Times about the refund, a Warner Bros. representative described the move as part of the studio’s diligent work “to ensure that all the Veronica Mars backers have a great experience.”
It’s a savvy PR move, and one that blunts the few criticisms the movie has met. With a 96 percent approval from its audience on Rotten Tomatoes and an almost $2 million take at the box office this weekend despite playing in only 291 theaters, it’s tough to argue that the movie wasn’t a substantial success, refund or no refund. (For context, it made roughly $6,832 for each theater it played in, higher than the $5,728-per-theater average for the much-hyped Need for Speed)
So, when do we get to hear about the almost-inevitable sequel…?
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Frank Cox
Film God
Posts: 2234
From: Melville Saskatchewan Canada
Registered: Apr 2011
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posted 04-09-2014 12:05 PM
That is a solved problem
quote:
A new Microsoft patent will allow the company to remotely surveil, and effectively count American citizens as they order online or cable pay-per-view from the comfort of their own homes.
From the patent:
A content presentation system and method allowing content providers to regulate the presentation of content on a per-user-view basis ... Consumers are presented with a content selection and a choice of licenses allowing consumption of the content. The users consuming the content on a display device are monitored so that if the number of user-views licensed is exceeded, remedial action may be taken.
The patent, submitted on April 26, 2011, and passed on Nov. 1, 2012, essentially allows the company to remotely turn on any cameras, be they mobile or from something like the XBox Kinect, and count the number of 'consumers' watching licensed content.
What Microsoft dubs 'complex algorithms' will not only count how many people are consuming that Mixed Martial Arts Championships, but also for how long they consumed the content, paving the way for charging users for half or even quarter uses of content.
From the patent:
In the case of the mobile display device, the display 105 is generally designed for use by one person but it is possible that more than one person may be able to view content on the display 105. As such the consumer detector uses data from the camera or capture device 102 to determine the number of consumers. In one example, camera 102 is an RGB imaging camera and the consumer detector analyzes one or successive images from the camera to ensure that the licensed number of users per view is enforced.
"Enforced" means the patent also gives licensers using Microsoft's surveillance 'product' the right to 'shut off' content if an unauthorized amount of users start to watch.
So you may want to tell the folks you invite over for the next fight to shut off their cell phones and remove the batteries prior to beginning the show.
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Brad Miller
Administrator
Posts: 17775
From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall)
Registered: May 99
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posted 04-09-2014 05:26 PM
quote:
The patent, submitted on April 26, 2011, and passed on Nov. 1, 2012, essentially allows the company to remotely turn on any cameras, be they mobile or from something like the XBox Kinect, and count the number of 'consumers' watching licensed content.
That will never fly, as Joe likes to watch his movies in the nude. ![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
Seriously though, it would be a blatant invasion of privacy.
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