Staples stores will soon rent DVD movies

Staples Inc., the Framingham-based office supplies retailer, confirmed today that it will begin offering a limited selection of DVD movie rentals at its US stores in mid June.

"A new in-store 'no-return' DVD rental service, called Flexplay, will let customers rent the latest movie titles without having to return them to the store," a Staples spokeswoman wrote in an e-mail. "Ideal for business travelers and busy small business owners on-the-go, Flexplay will offer a fresh selection of hit movies for viewing anytime, anywhere, and uses a patented technology that erases the DVD after 48 hours of opening the inner package. Customers can safely recycle the DVDs with their other plastics."

According to its website, Flexplay Technologies Inc. of Atlanta is a developer and a supplier of limited-life optical media technology; Flexplay time-limited DVDs offer unlimited, perfect quality DVD playback in any standard DVD player, but only within a pre-set viewing window that begins when the use opens the sealed Flexplay DVD package.

(At left, a movie currently available in the Flexplay format.)

Shortly after the viewing period elapses, the Flexplay DVD becomes unplayable and can be safely recycled or discarded, the company said.
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)