Industry Researches Disc Activation against Theft
Posted June 23, 2009 10:40 AM by Juan Calonge
The Entertainment Merchants Association (EMA) today announced the results of a study on the advantages of adopting “benefit denial” technology against the theft of DVDs, Blu-ray Discs, and video games. The study found that this technology could bring as much as $6.8 billion annually in increased sales, cost savings and cost avoidance. If further studies are positive, the technology could be deployed in late 2010.
Benefit denial is the concept of denying the shoplifter or internal thief the ability to use stolen goods. For example, the apparel industry deploys security tags containing sealed vials of permanent dye that break if forcibly removed from a garment, rendering the item unsuitable for wear, return, or resale.
In the home entertainment industry, benefit denial would involve shipping BDs to retail stores in a disabled state. They would then be unlocked during a point-of-sale transaction. Such technologies have the potential to nearly eliminate internal theft.
Up to now, theft has prompted many retailers to merchandise Blu-ray Discs in locked cases, keeper racks, and other systems that, while prevent shoplifting, also discourage sales. Internal theft also imposes tremendous costs on the supply chain.
Mark Landry, Vice President, Telecommunications, Media and Entertainment, Capgemini, commented: “The study projects that benefit denial technology will enable retailers to increase revenue from sales lifts from open merchandising, reduced out-of-stocks, new distribution channels, and legitimate sales replacing sales of stolen merchandise. The revenue enhancements would be spread broadly among retailers, studios, publishers, distributors, and replicators.”
EMA's project regarding benefit denial technology is called “Project Lazarus”. In the next stage of the project, EMA will quantify the costs of deployment of benefit denial technology for DVDs, Blu-ray Discs, and video games. If the results continue to be positive, the technology could be deployed in stores in the fourth quarter of 2010.
Source: Entertainment Merchants Association
Hopefully this is cost effective for ALL merchants.
Last edited by Batman1980; 06-23-2009 at 03:11 PM.
I remember reading about this technology a while back and I fear that it will be implemented. I guarantee within the first month of it's existence we all will have at least 1 case where the movie isn't properly enabled and we'll have to go back to the store and get it to work.
Yea, I bought a pair of shorts yesterday at Hollister and the damn
clerk did not remove that stupid plastic thing, I almost tore them
trying to get it off.
If this is ever implemented, would buying from online-only retailers like amazon allow you to avoid this DRM?
A very easy loss prevention system would just have customers be weighed when they enter the store and weighed when they go out (with their merchandise set aside). If they went to the restroom while in the store they may weigh less, but that's not a problem. Only problem is if they weigh more. Seems fool proof ... unless they ditch some clothing in the restroom to make up for the stuff they steal but the guy at the door should remember.
If this is ever implemented, would buying from online-only retailers like amazon allow you to avoid this DRM?
A very easy loss prevention system would just have customers be weighed when they enter the store and weighed when they go out (with their merchandise set aside). If they went to the restroom while in the store they may weigh less, but that's not a problem. Only problem is if they weigh more. Seems fool proof ... unless they ditch some clothing in the restroom to make up for the stuff they steal but the guy at the door should remember.
If they didn't have the magnetic things etc.... people would quickly catch onto this, and carry something in the store the same weight as a movie to leave on the shelf.... and steal like there is no tomorrow.....
If this is ever implemented, would buying from online-only retailers like amazon allow you to avoid this DRM?
A very easy loss prevention system would just have customers be weighed when they enter the store and weighed when they go out (with their merchandise set aside). If they went to the restroom while in the store they may weigh less, but that's not a problem. Only problem is if they weigh more. Seems fool proof ... unless they ditch some clothing in the restroom to make up for the stuff they steal but the guy at the door should remember.
What if you go to the in-store MacDonalds for a heart busting lunch and super size the pop? How do you confirm identity with the original data? Accuracy of the scales (many valuable items weigh next to nothing)? Privacy issues? Many issues to resolve for that to work.
If this is ever implemented, would buying from online-only retailers like amazon allow you to avoid this DRM?
A very easy loss prevention system would just have customers be weighed when they enter the store and weighed when they go out (with their merchandise set aside). If they went to the restroom while in the store they may weigh less, but that's not a problem. Only problem is if they weigh more. Seems fool proof ... unless they ditch some clothing in the restroom to make up for the stuff they steal but the guy at the door should remember.
Why don't we have TSA take over security for B&M stores? I'm sure they're looking for additional revenue streams as well, and imagine the thousands of jobs opening up for people needed to man the stations as people are scanned before they leave stores. Of course Blu-rays will increase by 15% to cover the costs, store thefts will drop dramatically, and the public will be re-assured everything is under control, just like when you fly.
I remember reading about this technology a while back and I fear that it will be implemented. I guarantee within the first month of it's existence we all will have at least 1 case where the movie isn't properly enabled and we'll have to go back to the store and get it to work.
that came to my mind before I even finished reading the article.
I just got back from Target and they had their blu-ray movies in those plastic cases. Wouldnt that be enough??? There is no way in hell you could get that case off without damaging the movie. The cases leave no wiggle room for the movie. This whole activating thing sounds too complicated. IMO
Fully support it, as long as the cost isn't passed down to the consumer.
And as long as once it is activated it:
- Remains good forever.. Better not be some internet check that may be offline or be disabled someday making all discs disabled.
- Can be sold on ebay if you get tired of the movie, A lot of this type of DRM is only to prevent used copies from being sold making the companies much more money because nobody can sell their old copies. Like we see with some PC Games.. HATE that crap.
- Not tied to current hardware / player.. Like Microcrap software where it disables if you change a hard drive or graphics card.
All countries
Argentina
Austria
Belgium
Brazil
Bulgaria
Chile
China
Colombia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Estonia
Denmark
Finland
Greece
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
Indonesia
Ireland
Israel
India
Latvia
Lithuania
Malaysia
New Zealand
Norway
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Singapore
South Africa
South Korea
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Thailand
Turkey
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
New anti-theft technology on the way
, most media already has anti-theft devices(Sensormatic,etc) in them that have to be de-activated!
Linear Mode
