The DVD release of Die Hard 4.0 aka Live Free or Die Hard (Filmstalker review) is to have something a little special on the disc.

In a bold move for the studio, who are testing the feature out for inclusion in future DVD releases, it will feature the Die Hard 4.0 film in digital format so that it can be transferred to your computer and portable devices.

The worldwide President of 20th Century Fox seems extremely positive and switched on to offering the film in digital format alongside the physical copy that you've purchased, something I whole heartedly agree with as would a lot of film viewers I know.

Surely if I buy a copy of the film I can do with it what I wish, as long as I am not copying it and giving it to those who do not have a purchased copy. Isn't it only fair that I should be able to take a copy of the film I've purchased and watch it on my PC, or my portable video player as and when I want? The 20th Century Fox President, Mike Dunn, agrees.

"This may be the killer app, where you have physical media that allows you to have a big-screen experience and at the same time move the file around to other devices and have a great experience there as well."

His comment comes from The Hollywood Reporter through Yahoo News, which also tells us that Warner Brothers are planning a similar offering with their DVD release of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

It finally looks like the studio's are sitting up and taking notice of the audience and the people who are paying for their films.

However, don't get the idea that this will be totally open, there will be DRM in the file and that means that only Windows Media Player PlaysForSure enabled devices will be able to play the files. Here's how the use is described in the article:

"To utilize the Digital Copy feature, consumers can insert Disc 2 of the "Live Free" DVD into their computer. A menu will pop up, offering a choice of either executing the Digital Copy application or launching the DVD special features. If the Digital Copy application is selected, the computer will verify the proper requirements and ask the user to enter a 16-digit serial code, found inside the DVD case. After selecting a destination -- either the computer's hard drive or a connected PlaysForSure video player -- the transfer will begin, and the program will be ready for playback after about five minutes."

Well it's not that bad, and it's a great step in the right direction, but limiting to only Windows PlaysForSure enabled devices is quite limiting.

Do you know if your device does? What would you want to do with this feature anyway? Would you watch the film on your laptop or portable player even if you had the DVD at home?