Lionsgate announced today that it will include iTunes compatible digital copies in its DVDs and its Blu-Ray disks.

As MacWorld.co.uk [1] notes, the independent movie studio has reached a deal with Apple, allowing it to include a smaller version of its movies into each DVD. The smaller version will be playable on Apple's iPod and iPhone devices.

Like it's the case for a few FOX DVDs, users will however have to authenticate and activate the video file from iTunes before being able to play it on their Apple iPod or iPhone.

The technique will help movie studios to fight against piracy. For iPod and iPhone users, it's currently easier to find a movie on a pirate sharing network rather than buying the DVD and ripping it to their computer.