Disney to Begin Renting 'Self-Destructing' DVDs

TexasStooge · #1 Postby **TexasStooge** » Mon May 19, 2003 8:06 am

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - This disc will self-destruct in 48 hours.

That is the warning The Walt Disney Co. will issue this August when it begins to "rent" DVDs that after two days become unplayable and do not have to be returned.

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 on Friday.

The discs stop working after a change in color renders them unreadable. They 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.

Chief Executive Alan Blaustein told Reuters he was also in conversations with other companies to use the self-destructing discs.

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."

JQ Public · #2 Postby **JQ Public** » Mon May 19, 2003 8:10 am

Its a good idea...even though i know a lotta college students won't like it!

chadtm80 · #3 Postby **chadtm80** » Mon May 19, 2003 8:28 am

Thats pretty dang neat

#4 Postby **streetsoldier** » Mon May 19, 2003 8:47 am

It appears to me a thinly-veiled attempt to garner more $$$ for Disney (and less for the video stores)...I do not like it at all.

#5 Postby **wx247** » Mon May 19, 2003 8:49 am

It is kind of silly if you ask me.

Lindaloo · #6 Postby **Lindaloo** » Mon May 19, 2003 9:14 am

streetsoldier wrote:It appears to me a thinly-veiled attempt to garner more $$$ for Disney (and less for the video stores)...I do not like it at all.

I agree!!! My family and I are heading down to Orlando May28th, but we have decided against going to Disney World.

#7 Postby **Stephanie** » Mon May 19, 2003 9:27 am

I don't see the problem with it. It saves labor costs of retrieving the movie, the cost of inventory and keeping track of the movies for the video rental stores and it helps to prevent (but not totally eliminate) the problem of copying movies to a certain degree. This way, if you don't want to buy the movie, you can just rent it and not worry about bringing it back.

Amanzi · #8 Postby **Amanzi** » Mon May 19, 2003 9:50 am

Oh great more junk to add to the land fills :roll:

Although I am very bad at remembering to return DVD's to the video store I think it is just extra plastic to add to our garbage and disposable world. I think it is a bit of a silly idea.. Right Im off my save the planet soap box now

#9 Postby **Stephanie** » Mon May 19, 2003 10:05 am

Amanzi wrote:Oh great more junk to add to the land fills

Although I am very bad at remembering to return DVD's to the video store I think it is just extra plastic to add to our garbage and disposable world. I think it is a bit of a silly idea.. Right Im off my save the planet soap box now

You know, I am the same way about land fills etc., and I didn't even think of that! I agree!

ColdFront77 · #10 Postby **ColdFront77** » Mon May 19, 2003 2:47 pm

In a general sense Disney's Buena Vista Entertainment is wasting money, having the DVD become useless after a "short" period of time; not to mention that landfill issue.

TexasStooge · #11 Postby **TexasStooge** » Tue May 20, 2003 8:04 am

On my opinion, it's just a waste of discs.

TexasStooge · #12 Postby **TexasStooge** » Tue May 20, 2003 8:25 am

ColdFront77 wrote:In a general sense Disney's Buena Vista Entertainment is wasting money, having the DVD become useless after a "short" period of time; not to mention that landfill issue.

I agree.

JetMaxx · #13 Postby **JetMaxx** » Tue May 20, 2003 10:01 pm

That's nothing new...

When Beth was a toddler, every CD or VHS tape she touched would self destruct :lol:

That child destroyed more property than a F3 tornado :lol:

weatherlover427 · #14 Postby **weatherlover427** » Tue May 20, 2003 10:04 pm

Geez, what will they think of next? :roll:

I do not like this at all.

Guest · #15 Postby **Guest** » Tue May 20, 2003 10:17 pm

Just another idea that will put more people out of work.................Not to mention the landfills etc....

Disney to Begin Renting 'Self-Destructing' DVDs

Do you really think it's a good idea for Disney/Buena Vista to come up with self-destructing DVDs?

Disney to Begin Renting 'Self-Destructing' DVDs

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