TERRE HAUTE, IN — The DVD format wars continue — and Sony has drawn a unique line in the sand when it comes to what it will allow on its new Blu-ray Disc format. Although content containing graphic violence, rough language, and presumably any number of social ills including racism and sexism will be acceptable for the new technology, pornography will be a big no-go.Although the company declined to clearly outline where it plans to lock its metaphorical heels on the issue, representatives say that it will not allow the adult industry to use Sony DADC, its disc replicating subsidiary, to press videos. No matter where a company resides internationally, Digitmag.co.uk reports that disc’s with no rating or those above a certain maturity level will not be allowed access to the duplication process.
Feedback from industry professionals is about what one would expect, with Digital Playground’s Robby D. pointing out that the decision about what HD format to use was “kind of made for us,” meaning that HD DVD will remain the standard for at least the foreseeable future. “As far as I understand,” he continues, “Sony has said to the replicators that if you replicate adult, you’ll lose your license.”
With threats like that, Blu-ray customer companies can expect to miss out on a lot of money — and those invested in HD DVD may well find themselves positioned to win the format wars. Moral stances aside, the adult industry has an ancient tradition of being at the forefront of new technology. Likewise, companies that have shied away from erotic content have suffered on the marketplace, a lesson that Sony should have learned during the days of the great VHS vs. Betamax battles. Then, like now, Sony chose to remove itself as an available resource for the adult industry, handing a victory to the technologically inferior VHS.
“Is Sony doomed to repeat one of the mistakes of the past,” Jake Richter, an analyst for Job Peddie Research asked recently in a report. “It seems like that may be the case,” he concluded.
According to some, the problem isn’t finding stampers for videos, but finding tech support when Blu-ray Discs are used. “Nobody comes out and says, ‘No, we won’t work with adult,'” Jackie Ramos, vice president of DVD production at Wicked Pictures, observes, “but Blu-ray just offers no help.”
Adding to the confusion is the fact that the Blu-ray Disc Association claims that no one has been banned from using the format. The group, which oversees the licensing of the technology, issued a statement announcing that “We look forward to working with any content providers interested in providing their audience with the best possible high definition entertainment experience,” something that would presumably include the adult entertainment industry.
Responses to the situation vary from adult company to adult company, with Vivid Video planning to enter the high definition market with a release of the quintessential Debbie Does Dallas in both HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc format during the spring. Wicked Pictures, on the other hand, has opted to use HD DVD for its virgin voyage into high-def, with other companies following suit, including Digital Playground.
According to Jay Grdina, president of ClubJenna and soon-to-be-ex-husband of its icon namesake, observes that “Sony is really protective of proprietary information and proprietary products, especially when it comes to the adult market. Sony is always a little more stand-offish and hand-away from it.”
Whether that will once again translate into Sony being equally stand- and hand-offish to revenues associated with the adult industry remains to be seen, certainly on the majority of Blu-Ray Discs any time soon.
