The (ailing? flailing? need a new word for "miserable, migrane-inducing mess") economy will likely delay plans for an industry-wide $1 billion digital upgrade by Digital Cinema Implementation Partners. In a third-quarter earnings call, Regal Entertainment Group CEO Mike Campbell said, "We believe, and JP Morgan believes, that it will get financed once the market returns to something that is reasonably normal. We're going to continue to put together the pieces behind the scenes to be in a position to react."  [Knoxville News-Sentinel, via CinemaTech]

For those of little digital faith, consider this: On the first day that there was a box office -- April 14, 1894 -- the take was about $2,850; by the mid-1920s, movies generated $1 billion a year (figures adjusted for inflation). In 1977, Andre Blay made $140,000 during his first weekend selling videocassettes (remember those?); by 1990, it was a $6 billion business. "Those two examples may be instructive when studios and filmmakers look at digital distribution," writes Scott Kirsner, who lists a few innovative payment methods beyond downloads and digital rentals, including the right to re-edit or customize works and remote speaking gigs via videochat. [CinemaTech]

For his latest movie, "Slacker Uprising," Michael Moore proudly announced that it was available for free download -- “email it, burn it, and share it with anyone and everyone.” So why are his laywers sending letters demanding that it be removed from Sweden-based bit torrent search engine BTJunkie? Because Moore (inexplicably) wanted his offer applied only to North America, something that's virtually impossible to legislate on the internet. The threatening letter went to BTJunkie's DNS provider, easyDNS; said its cofounder, Mark Jeftovic:"I did point out this seeming contradiction in Michael Moore’s message vs his lawyer’s actions.” [TorrentFreak]

PC manufacturer Dell and Paramount Pictures have made a deal in which buyers can receive "Iron Man" preloaded into newly purchased Dell computers. However, the option, with "exclusive bonus footage," costs an extra $20. (The two-disc-set is $22.99, plus shipping, at Amazon.com.) Nor does Dell give you a head start; the deal is available starting today, same as the DVD release. [Market Watch]