Self-Destructing DVDs
 

NEWS
Buena Vista Home Entertainment, owned by Disney, will begin a pilot program in August to rent DVDs which do not need to be returned. The DVDs become unplayable in 48 hours due to a chemical process which turns the DVD black as it is exposed to oxygen. Once the DVD turns completely black it can no longer be read by the laser in the DVD player. The special DVDs will be given the name EZ-Ds.

The technology behind the DVDs is owned by Flexplay Technologies. Flexplay--as well as Spectra Systems--began using self-destructive DVDs back in 2002 (see our previous coverage). Up until now the technology has been used by movie studios to send new movies to members of the media for preview.

Since the DVD rentals will not need to be returned they are sure to be offered to a much wider rental market. Some of the first movies to be offered for rental using the new technology include The Recruit, The Hot Chick, and Signs.

Read more on this topic at Reuters.

Environmentally irresponsible?
 

Presumably these 'self-destruct' DVDs are also fully degradable? Or are thy intended to go to landfill?

Forgive my cynicism, but this almost makes AOL seem environmentally responsible!

They don't dissolve completely or anything. So yes, you will
have to throw them with the garbage or use them to put your
cups on.

Not very environment friendly at all indeed! Oh and for those
that are wondering. This was not done to prevent illegal copying
or anything. They just didn't thought the consumer wanted to
go back to the store to return their rentals. Personally I like it
that way, I can check out what next to rent. And ofcourse this
will add more $$$ for shipping etc. A DVD rental store now needs
new DVD's each week because they won't come back.

Weird system and world we live in!

My first question was cynical, my second rhetorical. But thanks for the reply anyway.

Forgive my forthrightness, but I cannot see that this waste of resources and environmental pollution, which IMO equates to reckless abandon, can be suitably balanced by commercial greed or the slack-arsed laziness of rental consumers. If renters don't want to get off their backsides to return a DVD they should buy it instead.

Couldn't agree more!

I think that this is why Netflicks was created. You rent movies online. They mail them to you. You watch the movies, then mail them back in a postage paid return envelope. It keeps you from having to drive anywhere, there is no waste materials (except for the envelopes), and it keeps the economy going by using shipping services.

These degrading DVDs are something else to add to my list of worthless excuses to avoid.

It would be nice to have a count down timer! And you must buy a reusable steel can where to put the self destructing DVDs, to safely explode! :)

Water soluble eatable DVDs will be the next step -- will come in 31 flavors; pet versions will come in dog and cat favorite favors. Very environmentally friendly, Red 40 color content 50%. Drug dealers will sell their version with your favorite ingredients or with a custom computer controlled mixture. You'll watch one, then will eat it as you'll pop in another one into your player. It will be like chain smoking. Sales will be high. Economy will sore. No more recessions. No more depressions -- everyone will be high. We are in 21st century. Why use old technologies and philosophies? The biggest drug dealer will be Microsoft, since they lobbied heavily to legalize drugs and the legislators listened to their dollars and gave them exclusive rights to use their patented system.

Erm, what drugs are you on, exactly? :-)

netflix better
 

I recently joined NetFlix. You rent online and the DVD they send you includes a return mailer at no cost to the renter, nada. No late charges either. Just stick it in my mail box and put the flag up. Don't have to go to the rental house for renting or returning. Much better than this disposable option. Only problem is they don't seem to have the latest releases. good source for foreign film.

I joined Hollywood Video's unlimited rental plan. For $20 a month, I can rent as many movies as I want, two at a time, for as long as I want. It's a short drive, but I need to get out sometime :)

lol, Circuit City tried to do this with DVd's in the 90s, (DIVX, no not that DIVX) you would buy the DVd and you could watch it 3 times.

That taught them a lesson -- to go back selling refrigerators

I don't think they realized that DIVX failed horribly, and this should too. It makes me sick thinking of the millions of discs they're going to waste by doing this.