By Keith Newman
Video rental stores are refusing to remove parallel-imported digital video discs (DVDs) from their shelves in a stand-off with film distributors threatening to enforce the Copyright Act.
Following last year's parallel-importing laws, video stores agreed to support local distributors, but now they say they have been forced to stock
United States-sourced DVDs months ahead of schedule to meet public demand and because "everyone else is doing it".
Distributor Columbia Tristar last week threatened to enforce the act, which gives them control over rental dates. Other distributors are believed to be on the verge of similar action.
Video Ezy director Russell Clark last week asked distributors for a list of their planned DVD releases for the next six months to help with compliance. So far he has only heard from two.
United Video is about to make a similar request.
"Until the studios give me their planned schedule of releases, I can't promise not to make product available before their day and date," said Mr Clark.
DVD, billed as the successor to videos for home entertainment, is released in the US just two or three months after the big-screen version, giving importers a chance to beat the traditional distributors.
On Friday, representatives from about 70 per cent of the rental industry, including Video Ezy, Blockbuster, United, Civic and the Video Dealers' Association, met to discuss the issue with the Video Association of New Zealand and the chief executives of distributors Roadshow, Columbia Tristar, Universal Pictures and Warner Brothers.
The matter is further clouded by talk of a big change in theatrical, video and DVD release dates to coincide with those in the US. Mr Clark believes DVD titles should be available as soon as a movie has had exposure throughout New Zealand. He points out that new movie releases are not exactly secret, with details available on the Hollywood gossip shows, in movie magazines and on the Internet.
"Distributors need to understand what we're up against. They have to find a way to get the newest-possible DVD titles to our customers. If they don't, the public will buy them from the US anyway - in 72 hours or less - which is one less rental for our stores."
