[ben0x539]

> How exactly would this work? Would the movie studios ask you nicely to remove the file from your computer after three days?

Isn't that exactly what stores do that rent out movies on physical media?

[talmand]

No. If you don't return the physical media then chances are they'll charge you the full price, not allow you to rent again, and/or track you down because you most likely gave them your contact info.

[ben0x539]

But they don't have a mechanism in place that makes sure I remove the copy of the movie from my computer after I return the physical medium.

[talmand]

While true, copying a DVD to your computer is not a trivial enough exercise for most people to accomplish, for the U.S. at least.