[MattR644]

Originally Posted by hexydes

And second, what copyright is it infringing? What if someone already owns the latest version released (DVD), or even better, every version released (VHS, Laser Disc, DVD)? They have an HDTV, and every means possible of playing HD content. The HD version is unavailable commercially, but someone has provided a way of obtaining an HD version. So you're saying that under the established laws, despite them doing everything possible to have an HD experience, and additionally someone making an HD version available, they should wait years and years to watch it in HD, simply because the media industry has decided not to make it available in HD?

I do think that in court, what you are saying would most likely be the decision; I'm simply trying to point out the absurdity of current IP law. The fact that "pirates" are able to release an HD version of a movie, when the media industry doesn't, simply illustrates the degree to which they attempt to artificially manipulate the market. The fact that the law tries to support that is one of the very few things that makes me ashamed of America.

You're still potentially taking away lost sales from the CR owner in this scenario though. If there are pirates distributing the content in HD, that in itself proves that there's a potential market. If you own the movie in all possible formats, I bet you'd plunk down your $30 or whatever when the movie is released in HD. Who knows why they aren't releasing it; maybe they have a good reason, maybe not, but by having the HD version leaked, they are losing profits if they were planning on releasing it at a later date.