Usually, when you mention GOG.com, it's typically about DRM-free games. The site is an excellent place to purchase classic titles, as the company's philosophy is that if you make a purchase, it's yours forever. The games are also sold without the annoying DRM software, which in many cases seems to do more harm than good. Now the company is branching out into new frontier: DRM-free movies (opens in new tab).
Like the games it sells, GOG.com wants to offer classic movies as well as TV shows without the restrictions of DRM. Unfortunately, major content providers do not seem too thrilled with the idea. And who can blame them? Piracy is a big issue in Hollywood.
"We talked to most of the big players in the movie industry and we often got a similar answer: 'We love your ideas, but … we do not want to be the first ones. We will gladly follow, but until somebody else does it first, we do not want to take the risk.' DRM-Free distribution is not a concept their lawyers would accept without hesitation," GOG.com said in a recent blog (opens in new tab).
The move to offer DRM-free movies, it seems, will take time and patience. In the meantime, the company is offering a number of gaming and Internet culture documentaries that have no DRM and are relatively cheap. These include Minecraft: The Story of Mojang Deluxe Edition ($5.99), The 99% Occupy Everywhere ($5.99), The Dungeon Masters ($5.99), Once Upon Atari ($5.99) and more.
Most of the movies will sell for $5.99, the company indicated, and they'll also be in Full HD 1080p quality, or 720p. Those with a download quota or limited bandwidth can purchase movies in 576p instead. Don't want to download these files? Customers can stream them from GOG.com.
The blog pointed out that GOG.com is famous for its "bonus goodies," and will pack as many "goodies" as it can with each movie purchase. The blog also said that customers can expect subsequent movies released each week. Yay.
Currently, the company is offering two movies for free so that customers can get a taste of what's to come: The Art of Playing (opens in new tab) and TPB AFK: The Pirate Bay Away From Keyboard (opens in new tab).
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