Optical article having a material capable of undergoing a morphological transformation as an anti-theft feature and a system and method for inhibiting theft of same

An optical article configured to transform from a pre-activated state of functionality to an activated state of functionality, comprising:

• an optical data layer for storing data, wherein said data is capable of being read from said optical data layer in the activated state of functionality;
• and
• a material capable of undergoing a morphological transformation being disposed on said optical data layer and adapted to being irreversibly altered from a first morphology to a second morphology upon interaction with an external stimulus to alter said optical article from the pre-activated state to the activated state of functionality, wherein said material capable of undergoing a morphological transformation comprises a phase change material, a phase separation material, or a phase mixing material, wherein said material capable of undergoing a morphological transformation comprises a blend of materials having a first miscibility representative of said first morphology and a second miscibility representative of said second morphology, and wherein said blend of materials comprise a blend of a polymer and polymerizable materials, a blend of a polymer and crosslinkable materials, a blend of a polymer blend and polymerizable materials, or a blend of a polymer blend and crosslinkable materials.