Broadband video-on-demand (VOD) download service MovieLink on Monday announced that it has licensed from Sonic Solutions, the technology that will make it possible for customers to securely download DVDs for playback on standard DVD players.

The service, however, will not be available until MovieLink obtains a license for DVD-encrypting technology later this year. "We are hopeful this gets into the market in a big way in the next six months or so," said MovieLink chief executive Jim Ramo. Ramo noted that, until the licensing is secured, only a portion of its 1,500 movie catalogue, mostly movies from its studio investors, will be available.

MovieLink, jointly owned and operated by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Universal Studios and Warner Bros.,will have to obtain permission from all Hollywood studios in order to offer their movies for standard DVD burning.

The company's studio owners and Twentieth Century Fox now allow for downloads of some movies. The downloads cost between $20 and $30, last for a 24 hour period, and are viewable on computer screen.

In exchange for Sonic's DVD formatting and burning software, Sonic will bundle Movielink's download software with its Roxio CinePlayer application and other software.