Matsushita starts testing pirate-proof DVDs

Matsushita starts testing "pirate-proof" DVDs

Written by Petteri Pyyny @ 10 Jun 2003 3:29 User comments (14)

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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14 user comments

110.6.2003 20:47

ookami

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Junior Member

Wow.... do they really think this will work with "Joe Consumer"?!

211.6.2003 03:09

Ghostdog

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Senior Member

Sounds like a pretty bad service if you ask me. I doubt they´ll get the consumers excited about this.

311.6.2003 04:31

J.Price

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Junior Member

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.

411.6.2003 06:55

Motomatt

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Senior Member

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

511.6.2003 07:27

chazbmwUS

Inactive

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.

611.6.2003 08:27

ken0042

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Senior Member

Hey, it worked well with the original DIVX...... oh, wait, that tanked too.

711.6.2003 14:18

joy53

Inactive

Bad idea, who want to watch movies on their computer. Maybe once in a while. This Sucks. I will not support this one

811.6.2003 16:16

Dela

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Staff Member

What about the people with download limits?? lol

911.6.2003 17:20

Oriphus

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AfterDawn Addict

I wouldnt worry about what Matsushita (Panasonic) are doing. They tried that years ago and now you can hack and compress movies.

1011.6.2003 19:48

QUAKEDS

Inactive

WOW,,, I AM PRETTY SURE ,,EVEBODY CAN,, BUY A HD PLASTA FOR $7000 TO PLUG THE PC JA JA JA ..:0) DUM DUM DUM

1112.6.2003 06:13

donlion

Inactive

Dumb and Dumber

1212.6.2003 09:36

Ghostdog

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Senior Member

So if QUAKEDS is Dumber, who is Dumb?

1312.6.2003 09:47

JW_LEES

Inactive

These guys who invented this concept are from another planet. Talk about nerds !!

1415.6.2003 22:43

Actuator

Inactive

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.

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Matsushita starts testing "pirate-proof" DVDs

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