UltraViolet is a new digital locker system that incorporates multiple Digital Rights Management (DRM) systems that work across multiple devices.
How does this affect me?
Blu-ray discs are starting be sold with UV codes included which will allow consumers to redeem their codes online so that any UV compatible device they own will be able to stream the corresponding movies.
Why do I want UV?
So that you can watch your movies on devices without Blu-ray compatibility without having to rebuy them.
When will it be available?
The first UV enabled movies are Horrible Bosses and Green Lantern from Warner Bros. which are both available now and come with UV codes.
What devices can I use UV with?
So far no definitive list has been made available. However the Sony PS3, Vita and PSP support Marlin DRM which is a part of the UV specification and could be made to support UV without too much trouble.
Is it possible for me to access UV movies abroad?
UV has a built in mechanism to download licensed movies to registered devices so that they can be viewed without requiring an active internet connection and in this way licensed movies can be viewed abroad. As yet UV is not supported outside of the USA, but expansion to Canada and the EU is underway.
Which studios are involved with UV?
Of the major studios Sony Pictures, Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures and Universal Studios are all signed up to support UV. SPE, WB and Paramount have either released Blu-ray Discs or scheduled releases with UV codes included.
Where are Disney, are they not supporting UV?
Disney are supporting their own Keychest digital locker system with Apple. This is thought to be because Steve Jobs sat on the board of Disney and was the single largest stockholder of Disney after the sale of Pixar.
How many people can use a single account?
Up to six people can access a single UV account at any one time.
How many devices can stream movies simultaneously?
Six devices can access the account at any one time and three of them stream movies. The number of devices that can be registered to a single account is unlimited.
What is the quality of UV movies?
UV has two specifications, one for SD and one for HD. The SD specification is available up to 854x480p at 24 to 60 frames per second with Dolby Digital 5.1 or DTS-HD 5.1 channels. The HD specification has full HD 1080p24 resolution available and 7.1 channel DTS-HD Master Audio at 24.5Mbit/s or 7.1 channel Dolby TrueHD at 18Mbit/s being the top level audio specifications.
What are the video codec specifications?
UV uses high profile H.264/AVC video, same as Blu-ray video but lower bitrate.
Why doesn't the film industry follow the recording industry and remove DRM altogether?
The reason is that Blu-ray and DVD movies are high value items and while downloading a single MP3 illegally will lose less than a dollars worth of revenue for the recording studio, while downloading a movie illegally will lose up to $30 for the movie studio and retailer, by removing DRM entirely will make it easier for casual pirates to download movies and accelerate the revenue loss to piracy currently being experience by movie studios. With UV being so easy to use and cross-compatible studios are hoping that the minimal levels of DRM involved will be acceptable and non intrusive.
