RFID-Embedded Discs Could Put an End to Piracy
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by Mike Zazaian September 15, 2006 - 3:51pm, 2 Comments
Disc manufacturer Ritek is developing an RFID chip to embed in disc-based media, a move that could put a big dent in software piracy.
U-Tech, a subsidiary of Ritek, is currently in development of an RFID chip that could prevent illegal copying of DVDs, CDs, Blu-ray discs and HD DVDs. U-Tech has chosen a company named IPICO to manufacture the discs, and both U-Tech and IPICO have announced plans to begin production on the new RFID-discs at one of Ritek’s factories in Taiwan.
In order for the technology to be fully functional, drive manufacturers will have to include RFID-reading technology in future products. Drives would check the RFID chip to detect whether a disc contains a copied version of copyrighted media, and whether movies are being played in the correct geographical location. Ritek’s chief executive officer Gordon Yeh had this to say about the RFID technology:
This technology holds the potential to protect the intellectual property of music companies, film studios and gaming and software developers worldwide.
Of course, while this technology goes a long ways to prevent software piracy, it also will prevent disc-users who aren’t breaking the law from backing up their own content to prevent loss or damage. It will be interesting to see how the technology is received in light of the fact that a large segment of the disc media market is being lost to hard drive and flash memory manufacturers on the mp3/pvp/DVR segment.
[via DailyTech]
It seems it would also require consumers to buy new RFID enabled drives to read both the disk and the RFID chip at the same time.
Unless this is forced on customers or mandated in some way why would they want to do this? Replacing their equipment costs them money, so why would they replace them to save some big company money? And why would software vendors want to use this technology until everyone had replaced their drives, since it would just make their software not run or install on everyone’s systems and become a public relations nightmare (you think there wouldnt be huge public outcry?).
Go ahead and be sure to throw some money at that technology, Ritek. I hope it does wonders for your bottom line when it tanks because of technical feasibility but market rejection.
Scott Fisher
I doubt it will be sucessful.
First thing, I betcha that there will be IMMEDIATELY mods to trick the DVD players. I mean look what people did to the Xbox and PS2.
And if they’re gonna do that, I don’t have to buy a new CD drive do I? That’s what I thought.
The Person