Perhaps it is time to start picking up on a developing thread over on AVS forums, where several members are reporting the apparent premature decay of Blu-ray BD-ROM movie titles.

Reading these reports, it is not clear whether this is a widespread phenomenon, since many other members have BR discs that are showing no signs of decay. However there are several pretty convincing photographs of what appears to be a discolouration or spotting of the disc surface below the outer protective layer. As of yesterday, there seem to be two particular titles affected, but some others as well: Prestige (12 reports); Stranger than Fiction (2 reports); Departed (1 report); Gone in 60 Seconds (1 report). In at least three cases this has resulted in the disc failing to play.

Thankfully, it looks like those unlucky enough to have this problem are getting their BR discs exchanged by Amazon, with Buena Vista Home Entertainment (BVHE) writing separately to ask that the damaged discs be sent to them for analysis.

Of course there is a lot of speculation about what might have caused this (poor choice of plastic layers, poor quality control at manufacture, domestic atmospheric conditions), or whether this series of reports even consitutes a reliable body of evidence that something systematic is wrong. Twelve examples of the same title exhibiting this problem would seem to be strongly suggestive, but remember that verbal reports without photographs are less than desirable, and even the pictures themselves can be manufactured. One member observes that a particular photograph looks as if powdered cinnamon has been sprinkled on it.

Probably the only reliable indication of whether something is really wrong, would be the product recall and replacement program by BVHE. Whilst it could also be seen as a disappointment for Sony (co-developers of the BluRay technology) in what has to be a pretty bad month for publicity, it is quite possible that these are just manufacturing issues and not a flaw in the overall design of BluRay.

As usual we will have to just wait and see, but perhaps CD Freaks members would like to check their BR titles for similar spotting or other types of decay or non-playability.

You can report your findings in this thread on CD Freaks...