OK. I become more convinced every day that not only do the MPAA and RIAA not want us to copy our media to our computers or mobile devices, but they don’t want us to have access to it AT ALL after we have bought it. What else would be the excuse for the way it is packaged? Do you know of anything else that has so many levels of hard-to-open packaging around it? At least those annoying blister packs can be opened with scissors in one step.
Take a new DVD, for instance. I have taken the opportunity to illustrate my points with photos.
I buy DVDs for my kids. I buy DVDs for myself. I buy DVDs for my friends and family.
But this Christmas it seems that I have had the opportunity to open far more of these things than normal. I have not enjoyed it. Don’t get me wrong; I NEVER enjoy opening discs. But I guess it’s the volume this year that got me to write this little rant.
Take a look at a DVD I purchased for my daughter recently. It was wrapped in cellophane. Under the cellophane, a nice folding carton wrap. Under the wrap? A typical DVD case… with a cellophane wrap. Between the wrap and my new DVD? A plastic sticker on the top of the DVD case. Even when the case is open, I STILL have to work harder than needed to get the darn DVD out of the thing because the thumb holes have been covered with a plastic lip! I’ll break it down below and indicate my frustration level at each point…
The DVD is removed from it’s little plastic wrapper. Aww… great! My kid can watch this movie any minute now.
Oh… well, the DVD is inside this little carton… I’ll just shake it out and get watching this thing! No biggie.
Hmm… another plastic wrap… Ok. Now to get this sticker off the end of the case…
Darn it! I hate these things! The sticker always tears into 15 little pieces. Why can’t they make these things come off easier?
Oh wait… now there are two little locking tabs on the edge keeping the case closed… just rip those darn things off…
Now I’ll be able to just pop this sucker in the DVD player and we’ll be watching our new movie!
But wait! The stupid thumb holes that allow me to grab the edge of the DVD aren’t even real! They are just little indentions with lips that keep me from getting my fingers under the disc!
What is the DEAL!?!?!?
To get more to the point, why are there so many levels of “security” around these items? It won’t stop the stuff from being stolen. It won’t stop the content from ending up on the ‘net. And it certainly won’t make Hollywood start making more movies people would be willing to pay to watch. If anything, this junk they package their product in only serves to alienate their customers. I’m sure their have been computer whiz kids spend 10 minutes opening a disc, then rip it and make a torrent out of it BECAUSE the packaging was so difficult to deal with.
I’m not one to criticize without making suggestions for improvement, so here goes:
Step 1: Stop using folded and glued cellophane wrap. The shrink wrap is MUCH easier to open and is less brittle so it doesn’t tear into a hundred shreds that a pet or small child could choke on.
Step 2: There is no step two, other than STOP WITH THE PACKAGING AT THIS POINT! What possible need could there be for so many layers of plastic between me and the thing I just bought? Do DVD manufacturers get paid for ruining the environment with tons of plastic and the bi-product waste involved in its production?
I just don’t get it. What benefit could come from making it harder to use your product? What other industries go to such lengths to prevent access to their goods? If people were making deadly drugs from CDs and DVDs, I could understand making it a little more difficult to get to them, but it’s easier to get into a bottle of Nyquil or Sudafed than it is to get into the latest Fray CD!
