Amazon, Disney And Others Go To War, Consumers Lose
Amazon is the go-to website for nearly all of your purchasing needs. Arguably, the most popular purchase on Amazon is DVDs. Every third party company that carries films and television shows, such as Amazon, Netflix, and DirecTV, constantly have a back and forth with film producers over contractual agreements. DirecTV, not unlike Amazon, has had several contractual arguments with TV channels that have led to the channels being dropped. However, most have returned.
Amazon is no stranger to this type of disagreement. In June and continuing through this month, Amazon has been at war with the book publisher Hachette. As reported by The Inquisitr, Amazon has alleged illegal collusion between that company and Amazon competitors to keep e-book prices high. According to Re/Code, the issue has caused petitions and protests:
“On the print side, the retail giant is embroiled in a pricing dispute with book publisher Hachette, as the bookseller seeks to drop the price for electronic books. Hachette has resisted — and Amazon responded by suspending advance orders of titles from the publisher’s authors and slowing mail delivery of its books. A group of writers are taking out a full-page ad in Sunday’s New York Times to protest the bookseller’s actions — and Amazon has responded with a campaign of its own.”
With that contentious issue still hot, Amazon’s new war is with Walt Disney Home Entertainment.
Three big titles are currently suffering along with their fans during this new fight. Home Media Magazine was the first to report on this, when they stated:
“Preorder options for practically every major disc release from Disney are currently unavailable, including Muppets Most Wanted (Aug. 12), Captain America: The Winter Soldier (Sept. 9), Million Dollar Arm (Oct. 7) and Maleficent (Nov. 4). The Blu-ray Disc combo release of Disneynature’s Bears is still available for preorder ahead of the title’s Aug. 12 street date.”
According to Re/Code, Amazon made a similar move in a war with Warner Bros. Amazon took issue with contractual terms it had with the film producer and halted DVD sales from Warner Bros. Though the result of that war held up the highly anticipated film, “The Lego Movie,” the two companies reached an amicable deal.
Interestingly enough, though DVD options for ” Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Maleficent” and other Disney titles, “Amazon Instant Video” options have not been affected.
Home Media Magazine details this issue:
“The same situation appears to be occurring with Disney: those shopping Amazon for Muppets Most Wanted on disc, which streets in just a few days, are told to ‘Sign up to be notified when this item becomes available.’ However, Amazon Instant Video versions of the film ($14.99 for standard-def, $19.99 high-def) are still available for preorder (‘plus bonus features,’ the listing reads).”
It is unclear if Disney will give in to Amazon’s demands, but if the decision from a large company such as Warner Bros. is precedent setting, we need not worry about purchasing Captain America or Maleficent on Amazon.com for too long. Amazon’s Hachette dispute is another story.
What are your thoughts? Whose side are you on in the disputes between Amazon, Disney, and Hachette?
[Images Via Getty and latimes.com]
