Consumers should expect punishment for tinkering with their Blu-ray players, as many have done with current DVD players, for instance to remove regional coding. The new, Internet-connected and secure players will report any “hack” and the device can be disabled remotely.

It seems that more and more companies selling media-related products and services to consumers are losing their focus on providing benefits to their customers. First we had highly-restrictive DRM, then restrictive HDMI. Now, self-destructing Blu-ray players. These organisations seem increasingly intent on treating their customers as if they are criminals.

If this report turns out to be correct, I won't be rushing out to buy a Blu-ray player. Pity. The actually technology is pretty useful. But, who wants a device that the manufacturer can remotely disable on a whim, or through technical incompetence? Not me...

See the complete Reuters article.