Flexplay self-destructing DVDs coming to Japan

We thought the Flexplay self-destructing DVD was as dead as Divx before it (not the codec, the original locked-DVD format), but Convex Group, the investment company that owns Flexplay, hasn't quite given up the ghost. Japan's Nippon Shuppan Hanbai has apparently licensed the technology, which chemically renders a DVD physically unplayable two days after it's first opened (i.e. exposed to oxygen), and is marketing it as 48DVD. We somehow don't expect it to be any more successful in Japan than it's been in its home market, and promoting "The Aviator" as an initial release isn't going to help. Trust us, the schoolgirls who made "Titanic" one of the most popular foreign films in Japanese history aren't going to settle for a mere 48 hours with Leo.

[Thanks, maxmasa31]

[Dade Murphy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

So, as long as I use DVD Shrink or something and grab a copy within 2 days I should be ok, right?

[Jingo Jamming @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Would this not prompt people to find ways to not have the DVD destruct after two days...? Say by ripping them to their hard drive when they get them so that they can watch the DVD after it's been opened whenever they damn well please.

I think this concept could still be useful to video stores and renting videos... the customer wouldn't have go back to the store to return the video. I know I've balked at going to the video store because I didn't feel like having to take it back at some point. Although the same problem of not being able to watch it again after the two days would still apply...

[Sticky.Widget @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

The point of these DVDs is not to sell them to consumers, but to sell them to DVD rental services. The rental stores then buy the right to copy the data to and distribute X amount of these 48Hr DVDs , and then rent them accordingly. Considering that the largest cost for online providers is the right to distribute(which will be covered by the contract) and the postage back and forth, this is a viable solution, albeit wasteful.

Now, kiosks can be set up with the blank media and securely stored versions of the movies, which could be burned at the consumer's request. Suddenly, the days of the rental store are over, say hello to the kiosk and online rental business.

[Sticky.Widget @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

The point of these DVDs is not to sell them to consumers, but to sell them to DVD rental services. The rental stores then buy the right to copy the data to and distribute X amount of these 48Hr DVDs , and then rent them accordingly. Considering that the largest cost for online providers is the right to distribute(which will be covered by the contract) and the postage back and forth, this is a viable solution, albeit wasteful.

Now, kiosks can be set up with the blank media and securely stored versions of the movies, which could be burned at the consumer's request. Suddenly, the days of the rental store are over, say hello to the kiosk and online rental business.

[DMR @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

that would be a good idea as an option for hollywood new releases. along with the cinema release, there could be 24hour or 48hour dvd releases as well.... hollywood needs to get up with the times!!!!

[Dan @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

It wont work, though. The average consumer wont take the time to understand they only have two days to watch it and get frusturated. Plus, you cant completely ignore the cost of physical dvds to burn- while not expensive, it is probably comprable to what someone pays to ship a normal DVD back (~32 cents in the US), especially when you consider that these 48DVDs are going to be alot more expensive due to the lack of mass-manufacturing capabilities.

=D

[Chris @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

How exactly do they keep the oxygen from getting to the DVD? Is the packaging air tight? Or is there some sort of internal wrapper within the packaging that keeps the air out?

Seems like an anti copyright rebel would be able to poke holes, pinhole or otherwise into these disks at the store to leave the retailer with a butt load of coasters!

[Jayson Elliot @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

It's been how many years since manufacturers stopped putting CDs in longboxes because of the environmental waste? And now here's another chance to add to the landfills.

[paralipsis @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Just another product that does absolutely nothing to prevent piracy, and instead punishes the legitimate user. These kind of measures are destined to drive people away from the legal purchase of goods. It won't take too many expired disks before many people would be looking towards pirated products instead. Hope this idea dies a quiet unceremonious death.

[Monty @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Unless there was a way to recycle the disc (make it playable again), in which case we are still talking about shipping it back, this seems like a dangerous concept that should not be allowed based on environmental reasons alone. We have enough waste going on in this world without self-destructing plastic media.

[Dave Morales @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

There is a reason that earlier attempts at similar video distribution went down in flames...

Anyone remember Circuit City's Divx (1998-2000)?... consumers hated it, we hated to sell it (I worked for them for two years)... this model will always fail...

Too much that is different from the norm of renting or buying videos, too much to confuse consumers, too many restrictions...

[Cambob @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Divx isn't dead. I download Divx all the time.

PUnKs.

[Zelidar @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Could they be recycled, I mean 100%? Along with generously increasing that silly 48 hours that might be its only chance of survival.

[Brad Kent @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

This will never fly in Japan where there are strick waste/recycling measures in place.

[TIMMAH! @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

The problem with the product here was the way it was marketed and priced. They originally had some older movies on this media that you could buy in the stores for something like $6. Well, 1)not many people really had that much interest in seeing the movie, and 2)they sure as hell weren't about to pay $6 for the thing when you could go rent the same movie for half the price.

If they considered offering the format as a no-cost option at some place like Blockbuster, I think people would consider it so that they wouldn't have to make the trip to return the DVD. If they could get first-run movies and price them the same as a rental, then I could also see getting these out of vending machines.

[funetik @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Divx isn't dead, no, cambob. Dave's talking about Circuit City's product, which was roughly the same as this in that you had a limited usage of the movie. CC's product was encoded in divx but only played 3 times or something, no more.

[StreetStealth @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Actually, the only relation between the two DiVXes is that the codec was named as a gag after the failed service. The service didn't use the codec.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divx

[mark @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

"Divx isn't dead. I download Divx all the time."

Must be born on or after 1992 to post on this site.

[siggy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Echoing what #8 and #13 said, I can't imagine what was going through these guys heads when they came up with this.

The bright idea came to them! But suddenly they realized they were in Japan. Sad to say it was too late. The idea had already passed management and the product was already being made.

Later when the inventor's son points to the landfill of these things and asked what it is, the father can only say. "It is my shame son, my shame."

[blarg @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Mark I sure hope you ment on or before and not after

[vidGuy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Ahh, wiki does me well.

cc:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DIVX

codec:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divx

[Bushcat @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Some thoughts on the Flexplay format in Japan, answering a few questions above in no particular order:

1) Recycling: no problem, the disks can be recycled easily. Japan is exactly the place it WILL work: there's a strong recycling ethic, for example PET bottles can be returned to convenience stores.

2) The packs are airtight until opened. Then the clock starts ticking.

3) Yes, you can rip them just like any other DVD.

4) Because they're a one-way purchase, they can be sold in vending machines on the street, in shops and in hotels.

5) What's been unsaid so far, of course, is porn rentals: it's known that it's far harder to return a porn rental than to rent it initially if the shop's not 100% porn.

6) Every one-way "rental" is a new disk: tapes can play through damage, DVDs can't, and rental DVDs get damaged quite quickly.

7) This has nothing to do with preventing piracy. It's a way of "renting" a DVD without being a shop member, without being geographically tied to the location because you've got to return it, and without having to return in in 12/24/96 hours or whatever. You could buy all the new releases each month and watch them when you feel like it. If you think these disks somehow deprive you of your rights, then what do you get out of a visit to a movie theater? You pay money, come out 90 minutes later with nothing, but you don't bitch about it on the internet, do you?

Anyway, whether it succeeds or fails, at least have some idea why it exists.

[laptop @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Just because a movie comes on a DVD doesn�t mean you have to watch it on your TV screen or a DVD player.

[Matt @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

"5) What's been unsaid so far, of course, is porn rentals: it's known that it's far harder to return a porn rental than to rent it initially if the shop's not 100% porn."

Why? I've never rented porn, but can't you just tuck the DVD under your arm and casually place it in the return slot?

[Zelidar @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

#20: Thank you Bushcat for bringing the missing facts. Now it makes more sense.

[Jonathan N. @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Sweet. More shit to throw in a landfill. Are we sure this isn't an American company?

[Nick @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

...wow, DivX the disc format. That takes me back. I remember reading an article in PC Mag about that when it was proposed, and nobody thought it would fly EVEN THEN.

As I recall, the guy that hacked the MS MPEGV3 codec and recoded it as DivX 3.11 called it DivX as a none-too-subtle mocking of the failed disc format.