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A Chip on DVDs Could Prevent Theft

Posted by samzenpus on from the chip-the-children dept.

Dieppe writes "A simple chip added to a DVD disk could prevent retail theft. According to the AP article at MSNBC, the chip would be activated at the register to make a previously dark area of the DVD clear, and therefore readable. Could this help to stem the tide of the approximate $400 million dollars in losses from brick and mortar stores? Game console DVDs could also be protected this way too. Could this help to bring the prices down on DVD games and movies?"

7 of 435 comments (clear)

  1. "A Chip on DVDs Could Prevent Theft" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's not theft! It's copyright infring... oh wait.

    1. Re:"A Chip on DVDs Could Prevent Theft" by penguinoid · · Score: 2, Funny

      Indeed, that was my first thought. I'm glad to see that they are doing something positive for a change. And yes, it should lower the markup on the DVD's because they don't need to recoup their (real world physical) losses due to theft. I just hope that they haven't added something sneaky in there too.

      --
      Don't waste your vote! Vote for whoever you want, unless you live in a swing state it won't matter anyways
  2. Sharpie anyone? by sam1am · · Score: 4, Funny

    Sounds like a sharpie might be useful...

    1. Re:Sharpie anyone? by Starburnt · · Score: 2, Funny

      Looks like they've learned form their mistakes, the discs are dark to begin with and work when the darkness is removed. So you'll need liquid paper.

  3. Reduce... prices? by straponego · · Score: 5, Funny
    Oh yeah. That's what they're working on. They got a dozen guys on it. They got 'em working in shifts!

    /me wanders off, cackling

    1. Re:Reduce... prices? by ajlitt · · Score: 2, Funny

      The RIAA man in the black suit, Dude. Worthy fsckin' adversary.

  4. Re:Copy protection by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    $10 bucks say they try to find a way to add copy protection into the chip as well.

    I see your $10 bucks and raise you 10m^2 square meters of shag carpet, 2L liters of orange juice, 5Kg kilograms of fine diamonds, and a 2N newton push in the direction of an English class.