Copy count protection structure for optical recording medium and method for same

An optical recording medium comprising

• a first substrate with a center mounting hole and having top and bottom surfaces;
• a prerecorded area wherein user data is provided and adapted to be read from at least one of said surfaces of the substrate;
• and
• a count area comprising a photosensitive material that when exposed to a predefined wavelength of light of predetermined intensity over a predetermined period of time permanently changes the optical property to form at least a portion of one ring, wherein said at least one portion of each ring corresponds to an authorized copy of the prerecorded area and wherein the photosensitive material is represented by the formula (Sb.sub.a Sn.sub.b X.sub.c).sub.100-d O.sub.d where X is an element selected from the group consisting of indium, germanium, aluminum, and zinc;
• O is oxygen;
• and d is between 0 and 10;
• a is between 0.30 and 0.98;
• b is between 0.0 and 0.48;
• and c is between 0.02 and 0.60.

An optical recording medium comprising

• a first substrate with a center mounting hole and having top and bottom surfaces;
• and
• a prerecorded area, wherein user data is provided and adapted to be read from at least one of said surfaces of the substrate, comprising a photosensitive material that when exposed to a predefined wavelength of light of predetermined intensity over a predetermined period of time permanently changes the optical property of the prerecorded area thereby limiting one authorized copy of the prerecorded area and wherein the photosensitive material is represented by the formula (Sb.sub.a Sn.sub.b X.sub.c).sub.100-d O.sub.d where X is an element selected from the group consisting of indium, germanium, aluminum, and zinc;
• O is oxygen;
• and d is between 0 and 10;
• a is between 0.30 and 0.98;
• b is between 0.0 and 0.48;
• and c is between 0.02 and 0.60.

An optical recording medium comprising

• a first substrate with a center mounting hole and having top and bottom surfaces;
• a prerecorded area wherein user data is provided and adapted to be read from at least one of said surfaces of the substrate;
• and
• a photosensitive layer formed over a portion of the substrate wherein the portion of the substrate is the prerecorded area and comprises photosensitive material that when exposed to a predefined wavelength of light over a predetermined period of time with a predetermined intensity permanently changes the optical property of at least a portion of the photosensitive layer after each copy of the prerecorded area is made, wherein the optical property of the photosensitive material is changed for each authorized copy, thereby limiting the authorized copies of the prerecorded area to a predetermined number.

An optical recording medium comprising

• a first substrate with a center mounting hole and having top and bottom surfaces;
• a prerecorded area wherein user data is provided and adapted to be read from at least one of said surfaces of the substrate;
• and
• a count area comprising a photosensitive material that when exposed to a predefined wavelength of light of predetermined intensity over a predetermined period of time permanently changes the optical property to form at least a portion of one ring, wherein said at least one portion of each ring corresponds to an authorized copy of the prerecorded area and wherein the photosensitive material is represented by the formula Te.sub.a Ge.sub.b C.sub.c H.sub.d O.sub.e, wherein a, b, c, d, and e are atomic percents and (c+d)>40, d>10, a>5, b>5, and e.gtoreq.0 such that a+b+c+d+e=100.