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Have you ever wondered about the meaning of “OOP” in an auction or advertisement for a movie?

Almost everyone is aware that books go out of print (OOP) and become desirable as collector’s items, but few of us ever stop to consider that the same is also true for movies in VHS and DVD format.

Collectors are very familiar with OOP, and frequently use this term to advertise their products. They realize that space in the title bars of products is usually limited to 30-60 characters, so they use the “OOP” abbreviation to save space.

The OOP expression is often used in conjunction with a date and the word “cover.” Collectively, these terms mean the product and the package artwork are no longer being produced.

When distributors sell out their stock of a particular item they become difficult to find. Hard-core collectors and sellers usually know where to find items, but it’s more difficult for the average collector. Brand new and factory sealed OOP movies can quickly become highly prized collectibles, just as OOP books and music.

Lately, there has been a real boon in auctions and e-stores offering OOP titles. Items are usually listed in the seller’s inventory or are available through some indirect source.

As a word of caution, most collectors have learned to pay close attention to an items catalog number. This important piece of information is the number listed on the items cover, jacket or box. The catalog number is an easy way for collector’s to identify the studio’s authenticity, proving that the item is genuine and in fact is out of print. This is especially important where foreign items are offered because some versions are not OOP at all and these are intended to fool the average collector.

Some collectors who bid at auctions are not collecting for financial gain, but just want an item for the pure enjoyment of owning the item itself. They can curl-up with their favorite book or watch their favorite movie knowing the experience with their OOP item will be a truly unique experience.

Whatever your reasons for purchasing OOP items, you can rest assured that sellers will include all the information you need for making an informed and wise decision when you do decide to buy.

Whatever your motivation when making a purchase, be it as an investment or just for the pure enjoyment of watching one of your favorite movies, you are sure to find collecting of OOP movies both interesting and rewarding.

You’re watching TV one evening scanning through the reruns thinking it’s pathetic how little there is to watch anymore when a fantastic movie trailer comes on. It’s everything you love - the right actors, the wit, the action - and your heart beats a little faster in anticipation - if only you could watch it RIGHT NOW!

Well, the film industry has heard you. Along with the speed of the internet, consumers have now come to a new stage of demand. It used to be that we WANTED everything immediately - now we EXPECT it.

This is not the sort of thing that goes unnoticed by industries that cater to public reception. And now it has been announced that we may not be far away from simply walking over to our computer and downloading the newest releases.

During a meeting at the Cannes Film Festival, Culture Ministers from across Europe, film industry representatives and Internet Service Providers were among those who met to discuss the possible policies needed to distribute movies online.

BBC news reports European Union media commissioner Viviane Reding as stating: “In Europe, as in other continents, the opportunities for people to enjoy films online are set to increase tremendously over the next few years”.

Naturally there are still many issues to be resolved before movies are readily available to the public online. Piracy and broadband capabilities are still being questioned.

Piracy became the prominent issue when music files were being illegally shared over the internet. While the music industry fought against such services as Napster, they are still far from recovering their market revenue and the film industry is not anxious to join them.

What can’t be debated is that there IS a market, and no industry likes to bypass that because of possible problems.

Right now European broadband may not be up to the task of downloading such large files but has plans to proceed with distribution soon.

In America there has already been movie distribution with the inevitable legal proceedings against individuals facilitating unauthorized downloads.

Although the fight against piracy is being taken very seriously by the industry, it is still parents who are at the forefront of setting the example and instructing children on the ethics of downloading such material. Responsibility is learned.

In any event, the next time you see a great movie advertised and you are handy to the internet, perhaps you should stay in, avoid the lines and the traffic and check it out online!

First there was the remote control…you don’t even have to leave the comforts of your couch to change the channel. Now you can have movies delivered right to your mailbox. You no longer need to even leave your house to rent DVDs! Some would say “How cool is that?” Others might lament, “How lazy is that?” Whether you agree or disagree with it – mail movie rental is big business, and likely here to stay.

Two of the big players in the DVD rental arena are Netflix and Blockbuster. Let’s take a look at both programs below.

Netflix launched its online movie rental service in 1999 and currently has more than 3,000,000 customers.

With Netflix you can rent as many DVDs from the comfort of your home and have them delivered to your door in about 1 business day via U.S. Mail. There are no late fees and no due dates, and shipping is free both ways. Plans range from $9.99-$17.99 plus any applicable tax. When you finish watching a movie, simply put it in its prepaid envelope and mail it back to them. After they receive it, they’ll send you another movie.

Netflix has a wide selection of movies — everything from classics to new releases, with 40,000 titles. Their web site is available 24 hours a day and makes finding movies simple and convenient. New customers can try it free for two weeks. You can cancel your membership anytime; there are no cancellation fees.

Blockbuster now has a very similar online mail delivery movie rental program. Their program started in March 2005 and they have a online DVD library with more than 30,000 titles. Their monthly fee is $14.99 (plus applicable taxes) for an unlimited number of DVDs. You can have up to three out at one time. Return them in the postage-paid envelope and you’ll receive others that you have selected. Also as a member, each month Blockbuster give you two ecoupons for free in-store movie or game rentals. You can cancel at anytime. They also have a free trial membership.

The up-side of these online, mail delivery rental programs is there are no due dates or late fees, you don’t have to go into the store and there are more available selections than the stores carry. The downside is that you have to wait for delivery in the mail. Only you can decide the pros and cons of which program fits you best. You have lots of choices now!