Disney to rent self-destructing DVDs

[adair]

DISNEY HOME VIDEO unit Buena Vista Home Entertainment will launch a pilot movie “rental” program in August that uses the self-destruction technology, the company said Friday.

he discs stop working when a process similar to rusting makes them unreadable. The discs start off red, but when they are taken out of the package, exposure to oxygen turns the coating black and makes it impenetrable by a DVD laser.

Buena Vista hopes the technology will let it crack a wider rental market, since it can sell the DVDs in stores or almost anywhere without setting up a system to get the discs back.

The discs work perfectly for the two-day viewing window, said flexplay Technologies, Inc., the private company which developed the technology using material from General Electric Co.

The technology cannot be hacked by programmers who would want to view the disc longer because the mechanism which closes the viewing window is chemical and has nothing to do with computer technology. However, the disc can be copied within 48 hours, since it works like any other DVD during that window.

Buena Vista did not disclose pricing plans but said the discs, dubbed EZ-D, would be available in August in select markets with recent releases including “The Recruit,” “The Hot Chick,” and “Signs.”



"Your mission Jim................this DVD will self-destruct.............."

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[Sparkli]

this is odd... but i would think everyone would have to be careful, right? those chemicals can't be good for the dvd player right? hmmm.... i dunno. And if you can make a copy of it, what's the point?

odd, i tell ya.

[annie169]

How about all the trash that will make?? It doesn't sound very ecofriendly with the plastic left over and the chemicals being used.

[*StarDust*]

That's what I was thinking. They only work for 2 days then they're garbage. sounds stupid to me. (JMO)

[odyssey]

I don't understand the logic really
until I do I think it is a dumb idea.

[suziebee20]

How much would it cost to make these, and how much would it cost to rent them?? It just doesn't seem real- what if they don't work right, can you get it replaced? I also think it doesn't sound good for the players!

[Crueheadchick]

I heard of this about a year ago and they said that the rental cost would be about double or more because of how much it cost to make them!!! i think its crap!!!!!

[suzziq03]

WHATEVER ......... <------- listen up disney, this is comming from one of your biggest fans of almost everything you do!

I would like to invite the head of development on these things to sit and explaine the logic behind this to me, as I have a ton of questions and im sitting here scratching my head from all the

[Sparkli]

actually once a movie is totally completed and everything...making the dvd doesn't cost no more than 50 cents TOPS. But this would a GREAT way for everyone to get a new CD Coaster collection for all the rooms of their house! LOL This idea is so dumb it'll probably happen

tammy

[midniteblu2]

Just want me need, more useless cds lying around cluttering up our homes. SHEESH!!!

[Syrinx]

I think this is really stupid, if just for the environmental reasons. Oh goody, more junk to dump in a landfill!