Arrangements for renting videos have worked well for more than 20 years and benefit all concerned.

But now the big boys of the movie business such as Warner Brothers and 20th Century Fox are being greedy.

They are releasing top films like Chicago for rental and general sale at the same time instead of allowing an interval of about six months.

What's more, they are charging dealers many times more for films which are rented than those up to sale.

This could lead to video shops of the kind adorning almost every High Street in Sussex being forced out of business.

No wonder some store bosses in Brighton and Hove are so angry they are defying the rules while others are threatening a boycott of firms such as Warners.

Others have put leaflets inside video boxes explaining the problem and calling for public support.

It should be possible for video stores to work out a reasonable compromise with the movie studios that will keep both sides - and the customers - happy.

But if not the Government should consider making it illegal for film companies to take this kind of action, as is the case in the United States.

Not everyone wants to buy films or can afford to do so. The movie giants may yet find their greed is self-defeating.