My, how rumors spread, especially on the interwebs!

Paramount had a really good year in 2007, coming in first place amongst all the movie studios with a 15.5% market share of the $9.6 billion overall gross box office, and they have a promising 2008 lineup as well. As one of the major HD DVD exclusive studios, a lot rides on Paramount’s support for the format, so it’s no wonder that everybody’s interested in them.

On Monday, Financial Times wrote that Paramount Studios might invoke an “escape clause” in their HD DVD exclusivity contract and leave the HD DVD camp. The story picked up some steam and lots of people started reporting on it as if Paramount actually did leave, or that they’d made a statement to that effect.

While it’s entirely possible that Paramount could make a decision like that, it’s not truthful to put words in their mouth and say that they have. The actual wording on Tuesday from Paramount spokeswoman Brenda Ciccone, to Bloomberg.com is, “Paramount’s current plan is to continue to support the HD DVD format.”

I’ve already read anti-HD DVD spinners read into that statement and take apart the “current plan” part.

Sure, they could ditch the format. Or they could go neutral. Who knows what they’ll do until it’s actually done.

Some people who aren’t that familiar with how these studios and distribution work wonder if Dreamworks would follow suit or choose some other course. Dreamworks will follow any action taken by Paramount because the two companies are related. This actually covers a lot of other Viacom properties as well, including CBS releasing box sets of TV shows like CSI.

What an interesting year 2008 is turning out to be!