DivX contains span-and-scan versions of movies without additional audio- visual material. It also provides convenience through a proprietary encryption device. The device allows consumers to view a rented movie for a 48-hour period and not have to return the title to the rental store. The DivX disc can be discarded or kept and upgraded to a permanent movie for an additional fee. These movies cost anywhere between $2.99 to $4.99 for 24 hours viewing time and the cost depends on how recent the film is. According to New York Times, the first step in this legal direction was first taken by five major film studios who started offering rental feature films that U.S consumers can download from a website called "Movielink." These five studios include MGM, Paramount Pictures, Sony pictures, Warner Brothers, and Universal Pictures. The first reason for this development is that movie trailers are the most watched video material on the web and the second reason is the popularity of Internet file trading software like Kazaa and Morpheus, which people used to download unauthorized copies of movies in large numbers. By this new technology the film studios hope to prevent movies from being copied and transpired freely over the Internet and it also sets rules that govern how the movies can be viewed.
DivX.com, the hugely popular hub of the DivX community, provides DivX users everything they need to get started, including a selection of the best DivX software and DivX video content available. There's also DivXNetworks, Inc, the company behind the technology that was originally started as Project Mayo. DivXNetworks has grown into a vibrant group of international technologists based in San Diego, California, USA. DivXNetworks also includes the members of the DivX Advanced Research Centre (DARC), the top-notch video engineers who develop the DivX codec and continually drive the state-of-the-art in video compression.
