An optical disc used for storing content includes a theft control area
selected to render the disc unreadable. The disc must be exposed to
radiation of a specific wavelength before it can be read by a regular
device. The theft control area may include an area that contains data
that instructs the device not to read the disc. This area includes a
coating that changes its optical characteristics when exposed to the
radiation. The material could be radiochromic or thermochromic.
Alternatively, the theft control area includes an RFID device that
includes an element that is radiation sensitive. In this embodiment, when
the disc is irradiated, the element changes its electrical
characteristics.