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Matsushita starts testing "pirate-proof" DVDs

10 June 2003 15:29 by Petteri "dRD" Pyyny | 14 comments

Japanese electronics giant Matsushita (better known by its brand names, such as Panasonic) is trialing a DVD rental system that should be "pirate-proof". The technology combines physical DVD disc and file downloads from the Net.

The concept doesn't sound very user-friendly. The technology, which is developed by Matshushita and four other Japanese companies, forces (as far as we've understood) users to use their PCs to watch the movies instead of their existing stand-alone DVD players.

In trials, one of the participating companies, InterPia, will hand out "teaser" DVD discs that contain movie previews and trailers. Users can then purchase a full movie by inserting the disc to their PCs and downloading the movie from Net and paying for it. After the movie has been watched, it will delete itself -- viewing the movie again means that it has to be downloaded and paid again.

So, basically it sounds -- despite its "sexy" branding as "pirate-proof DVD" -- just like any other Net-based movie rental system, such as Movielink.

Source: ZDNet

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Discuss this article!
ookami (Junior Member) 10 June 2003 20:47
Wow.... do they really think this will work with "Joe Consumer"?! _______________________ Ookami-san [ + quote]
Ghostdog (Senior Member) 11 June 2003 3:09
Sounds like a pretty bad service if you ask me. I doubt they�ll get the consumers excited about this. [ + quote]
J.Price (Junior Member) 11 June 2003 4:31
this thing will BOMB big time, what a waste! Sounds like noone there has any common sense or doesn't understand the average Joe and what he is willing to put up with. [ + quote]
Motomatt (Senior Member) 11 June 2003 6:55
FINALLY I can throw my big screen away to watch DVD's on my computer monitor. It's pretty obvious that Matsushita is hiring their people from temporary services.I think I will stick to buying them at the store and KEEPING them. Matt [ + quote]
chazbmwUS (Inactive) 11 June 2003 7:27
This has to be the dumbest thing they(Company) have ever thought of...I will not support pirate proof DVD's and I HOPE everyone else here won't either. [ + quote]
ken0042 (Senior Member) 11 June 2003 8:27
Hey, it worked well with the original DIVX...... oh, wait, that tanked too. [ + quote]
joy53 (Inactive) 11 June 2003 14:18
Bad idea, who want to watch movies on their computer. Maybe once in a while. This Sucks. I will not support this one [ + quote]
Dela (Staff Member) 11 June 2003 16:16
What about the people with download limits?? lol Come Say Hi on IRC!!! Server: irc.emule-project.net channel: #ad_buddies James! [ + quote]
Oriphus (AfterDawn Addict) 11 June 2003 17:20
I wouldnt worry about what Matsushita (Panasonic) are doing. They tried that years ago and now you can hack and compress movies. He who Asks for Nothing, Shall Never be Dissapointed! [ + quote]
QUAKEDS (Junior Member) 11 June 2003 19:48
WOW,,, I AM PRETTY SURE ,,EVEBODY CAN,, BUY A HD PLASTA FOR $7000 TO PLUG THE PC JA JA JA ..:0) DUM DUM DUM [ + quote]
donlion (Inactive) 12 June 2003 6:13
Dumb and Dumber [ + quote]
Ghostdog (Senior Member) 12 June 2003 9:36
So if QUAKEDS is Dumber, who is Dumb? [ + quote]
JW_LEES (Inactive) 12 June 2003 9:47
These guys who invented this concept are from another planet. Talk about nerds !! [ + quote]
Actuator (Inactive) 15 June 2003 22:43
its too bad they are only testing it, they will not wast all that much money doing that, then they will find out that nobody will embrace what they offer - I wish they would throw tons of money into the project and go bankrupt , Matsushita should just stick to making there panasonic batteries and forget net based movie rental systems - that is, unless they let you rent for 25 cents a movie. [ + quote]