So what happens when a provider, let’s say Google, kills their digital media pay service?
After August 15, 2007, you will no longer be able to view your purchased or rented videos.
Sucks, don’t it?
The rest of the announcement:
As a valued Google user, we’re contacting you with some important information about the videos you’ve purchased or rented from Google Video. In an effort to improve all Google services, we will no longer offer the ability to buy or rent videos for download from Google Video, ending the DTO/DTR (download-to-own/rent) program.
Interestingly, Google is pressing forward with another digital media play by supporting (rather than running) music service “gBox” — which will sell DRM-free Universal tracks beginning 8/21:
Google will get standard advertising fees rather than a cut of sales under the arrangement. The ads, which would appear when a Google user searches for specific terms such as the name of an artist, will direct the user to gBox.