There are methods of temporarily providing digital content to a customer
based on a request for a desired digital content. At a point of sale, a
writeable optically-readable medium may be provided with a changeable
portion that, when activated, is adapted to physically change over a
period of time (e.g., 3 5 days) to a degree that at least part of the
medium becomes unreadable by an optical media reading machine. The
desired digital content is preferably written on the medium at a point of
sale based on the request. The written medium is provided to the
customer. The customer pick up the medium at the point of sale, or the
medium may be delivered to the customer, for example. The customer
preferably need not return the medium because it will become unreadable
after a period of time upon activating the changeable portion.