We all know Fox is extremely sensitive to the AACS encryption hackers - especially with 1080p resolution discs - and if BD+ delivers the goods Fox/Disney/Sony/etc. want (e.g.: optical discs that either can't be copied or that take a long time to break - remember BD+ will have to be broken on each disc separately). So assuming BD+ works properly, when will the studios end the foreign distribution rights? I say this because what's the point of holding back Mr. & Mrs. Smith on Blu-Ray, when the Polish import can be had on HD-DVD and be copied onto the Internet (as anyone with Bit.To.rren.t already knows). At some point the studios will either have to control the foreign distribution themselves or change the overseas distribution contract to restrict the release on HD-DVD. Or has this already happened?

We all know Fox is extremely sensitive to the AACS encryption hackers - especially with 1080p resolution discs - and if BD+ delivers the goods Fox/Disney/Sony/etc. want (e.g.: optical discs that either can't be copied or that take a long time to break - remember BD+ will have to be broken on each disc separately). So assuming BD+ works properly, when will the studios end the foreign distribution rights? I say this because what's the point of holding back Mr. & Mrs. Smith on Blu-Ray, when the Polish import can be had on HD-DVD and be copied onto the Internet (as anyone with Bit.To.rren.t already knows). At some point the studios will either have to control the foreign distribution themselves or change the overseas distribution contract to restrict the release on HD-DVD. Or has this already happened?

I don't think this is the end of foreign distribution because no major studio is big enough to control and supervise product performance in all territories. They would love to, if they could... but I doubt they can do that.

I'm thinking about smaller territories OTHER than the bigger ones like UK, France, Germany, Spain, Aurtralia, etc. where studios can be there by themselves not needing local distributors to do the the local control/supervision. Poland can be an interesting case, since it may be a big country - but not yet a big market. Brazil is another example of another big country whose market I don't think is much bigger than France.

Digital exhibition could make it easier. But to be honest, STILL I don't see major studios doing a better job than local distributors do. Portugal is the example of a tiny country, where local distributors handle majors' films. And they do a great job: those films dominate Portuguese screens. Foreign distribution seems to work.

Another reason could be the increasing number of independent production who makes the majority of the films produced in America. Those films need foreign distributors as well as sales agents.

That's my point of view. Thanks.

We all know Fox is extremely sensitive to the AACS encryption hackers - especially with 1080p resolution discs - and if BD+ delivers the goods Fox/Disney/Sony/etc. want (e.g.: optical discs that either can't be copied or that take a long time to break - remember BD+ will have to be broken on each disc separately). So assuming BD+ works properly, when will the studios end the foreign distribution rights? I say this because what's the point of holding back Mr. & Mrs. Smith on Blu-Ray, when the Polish import can be had on HD-DVD and be copied onto the Internet (as anyone with Bit.To.rren.t already knows). At some point the studios will either have to control the foreign distribution themselves or change the overseas distribution contract to restrict the release on HD-DVD. Or has this already happened?

Fox can't control the foreign distribution of Mr. & Mrs. Smith since it's not a movie produced by Fox.

Fox only has the US (and some other countries) distribution rights.

Fox usually handles their own movies world wide.