The major US studios have all agreed to aquiesce to the Motion Picture Association of America's proposal to ban all DVD movie screeners this Academy Awards season. The screeners are usually sent to Academy members as a way of encouraging them to watch as many of the nominated (or would-be nominated) films as possible, but concerns about piracy prompted the MPAA to try to ban the practice.

The decision has angered many in the independent film community, with smaller indie divisions within the studios protesting that it's their flicks that will suffer. Independent films traditionally run in limited release to smaller audiences and the screeners were a way of ensuring that voters at least had the opportunity to see the films. In recent years the Academy Awards nominations have included a healthy number of such films, and last year Miramax's Chicago took top honors. This year, however, Miramax has agreed to abide by the no-screeners rule, even though it is not an MPAA member.

With the Academy Awards taking place earlier than ever this year (ballots are mailed on January 2nd), there is even less time for voters to see the year-end glut of high-profile flicks, which could favor earlier releases. And there is no word on whether the real indie studios (the ones not affiliated with major studios) will follow the majors' lead.

Watch for this plan to crumble away come November.