The inclusion of several classic Steven Spielberg titles in an HD DVD presentation given by Universal Studios Japan got tongues wagging online Friday. (http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/Universal/Disc_Announcements/Universal_Japan_Touts_Spielberg_Titles_in_HD_DVD_Presentatio n/1044)



http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/20071005/cea16_22.jpg

Excellent, that's what HDDVD needs this Christmas to accompany cheap players coming. I would buy HDDVD Jurassic park trilogy in a heartbeat if the price is reasonable. :D

I would buy HDDVD Jurassic park trilogy in a heartbeat if the price is reasonable.

are you aware of how much Japanese imports costs? 'reasonable' is not in their vocabulary :)

Marv Levy, spokesperson for Steven Spielberg, was kind enough to speak with us today regarding the recent surprise announcement from Universal Home Video Japan that Jaws, E.T., Jurassic Park and Back to the Future would be released on HD DVD.

According to Mr. Levy, "There are no plans to release these titles on HD DVD. It was a mistake and someone inadvertently put those titles into a presentation"

Mr. Levy also mentioned that Universal will be making a public statement regarding this mistake in the coming days.

Blu-ray.com would like to thank Mr. Levy for again speaking with us regarding Mr. Speilberg's films and their future in the world of high definition media.


http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=568

Any title owned by Universal can be released at any time. Doing so without the co-operation of Spielberg probably isn't a good idea though.

The terse retraction, though, infers that the studio(s) probably does not own sole rights to Spielberg's films.

http://www.homemediamagazine.com/index.cfm?sec_id=2

Author: ERIK GRUENWEDEL
egruenwedel@questex.com
Posted: October 8, 2007

A spokesperson for the HD DVD Promotions Group Oct. 8 confirmed that an erroneous slide presentation by Universal Studios Japan at last weekend’s CEATAC confab indicating the forthcoming releases of Steven Spielberg classics Jaws, E.T., Jurassic Park and Close Encounters of Third Kind on HD DVD from Universal Studios Home Entertainment was false.

In January, the HD DVD Promotions Group was forced to issue an apology to USHE and Spielberg when it inadvertently announced on its Web site the pending HD DVD releases of Jaws, E.T. and Jurassic Park.

In a statement from USHE, the studio said reports coming out of Japan relating to Steven Spielberg titles being released on HD DVD were inaccurate.

“Universal has not made any formal announcements regarding Spielberg catalog titles coming to HD DVD at this time,” the studio said.

Any title owned by Universal can be released at any time. (emphasis added)

Although it is likely the norm, unless one has access to the distribution agreements, I don't think anyone can say for sure.

Any title owned by Universal can be released at any time.

Not exactly true - the films listed in that slide are owned by Universal AND Amblin, which means both parties have to agree.

Jurassic Park
Production Companies
Universal Pictures
Amblin Entertainment

E.T.
Production Companies
Amblin Entertainment
Universal Pictures

Fair enough. Perhaps I should have said any title solely owned by Universal.