Consumers not interested in self-destructing DVDs, according to DVD x Copy developers

June 17, 2003

According to a survey conducted by 321 Studios, developers of DVDxCopy, are consumers not interested in self-destructing DVDs. Earlier we reported that Disney was starting to begin renting these discs. The advantage would be that the movie could be sold in any store, as there would be no need for a system that administrates renters and return dates. The DVD would become unreadable after 48 hours. Also comments on our site were mixed.

According to 321 Studios CEO Robert Moore are these discs implying that consumers are dishonest in their use of technology and are criminalized when they go to rent a movie. But the probably the main concern of this technology is according to 321 Studios the enviroment, as the useless rendered discs will be thrown away.

The creation of these non-recyclable, one-use products will create unnecessary landfill waste or release harmful toxins into the air when trash is incinerated. Environmental experts agree that self-destructing DVDs are extremely harmful to the environment. Instead of producing a disc that would be used when rented by 50 to 100 persons, the resources and energy used to create that disc will be multiplied by 50 or 100 times. Consumers that rent DVDs - like the 5,051 respondents that participated in the survey - overwhelmingly prefer to either to purchase or rent traditional DVDs.

"This survey demonstrates that consumers do not react favorably to corporate irresponsibility by movie studios or manufacturers. The self-destructing DVD business model only benefits the makers of these unnecessary products, and the losers are the environment and consumers," Moore stated. "We at 321 Studios are proud to give consumers a voice through surveys such as this and our campaign, Protect Fair Use."

Also reactions on our site clearly showed that people were concerned about the environment, but there are already companies able to recycle CDs . With Disney behind the chance that the self-destructing DVD will become a success is big anyway.

Source: Yahoo.com