Complaint Review: UltraViolet - Internet Internet

When you buy certain movies on Blu-Ray, you can often pay a little more to also get a code that allows you get a digital copy of the film. This means that with the code, you can download the movie to your computer and watch it there or transfer it to mobile devices like an iPhone or iPad so you can watch on the go.

Contrary to popular belief, there is no such thing as a "free" digital copy. When Blu-Rays come out, there is the normal bare bones version and then the versions that come with the digital copy of the code. Obviously, the digital copy version cost a few bucks more. 

Anyway, UltraViolet is a new system for watching digital copies that is being used by Warner Bros on such films as Green Lantern and Harry Potter DH2, each of which I purchased copies. 

Bottom line? Even though I've purchased digital copies of about 30 films this way, including Warner Bros titles, I can't get this new UltraViolet service to work on my computer. I've contacted their customer service and the issue remains unresolved.

Whatever the technical problems may be, I was promised an iTunes code for only Harry Potter as compensation (tough luck on Green Lantern I guess, though admittedly, I never pressed really them for it... just kind of thought they'd want to make things right though, ya'know?) Anyway, they have yet to even deliver the promised code for Harry Potter and it's been more than a week.

I've just emailed them again and let know of this report. 

As it turns out though, even had I gotten this "service" to work on my computer right away, I later learned it won't work without a continuous internet connection (so much for watching stuff on the go) it doesn't work on ios devices (ipods, ipads) without adding a bunch of new apps, you can't store the movies with your other media (so you got to look all over the place to watch something) and you don't really own the digital copy anymore (as I understand it, you only get like 3 views that work like rentals) and then it deletes itself after 2 or 3 years.

I am not the only one who feels this way either. The internet is blazing with complaints about technical issues, privacy concerns, and overall disgust at this awful service. 

Also, it was horribly inconvenient to sign up for the service because once you've jumped through all their hoops and downloads, you learn you have to sign up and do it all over again with another different service too, this time Flixster. THEN, you have to download all sorts of apps and programs with them just to get it to work on your computer (which it never did for me). AND THEN (yes, more) you have to dowload and sign up for this stuff AGAIN on your portable devices! Finally, you have to spend tons of time downloading the film each and every time you want to watch it, which they incorrectly describe as "streaming". In my experience, you shouldn't have to download a movie entirely in order to stream it... but maybe I'm wrong.

To summarize... do not buy any Blu-Rays with digital copies through UltraViolet unless you are prepared for the changes. Upcoming releases include The Hangover II, Friends with Benefits, Cowboys & Aliens. Be prepared, be careful.

I was not and in turn, I feel I was ripped off. Had the changes been part of the advertising or available to read on the package, then I would be at fault for not doing my due diligence. However, nothing on the package indicated anything about these significant changes in the workings of their digital downloads.  

Please note: this report is only representative of my experiences with Ultraviolet and I will update if they contact me and are willing/able to resolve this situation. Even if I am not ultimately satisfied, which would be difficult for them to accomplish at this point, I will post any offers/attempts they make. Just because my frustrations may prevent me from being entirely satisfied doesn't mean that their efforts weren't reasonable so I'll let readers judge that for themselves.