is there a way in the DVD specification to support expiration date for
dvd playback.
is it possible for dvd player to recognize that a dvd had expired and
refuse to play it ?

Hi sharon_de_salmon. My comments do not go to the specific question
that you have asked. Therefore your question is still open for a GA
researcher.

There is a physical way to do what you've suggested. A DVD can be made
in such a way that it will begin to degrade as soon as it is exposed
to air. Basically, the DVD is packaged in an airtight envelope that is
filled with some inert gas. The envelope must have a very low oxygen
transmission rate. As soon as the envelope seal is broken and the DVD
is exposed to oxygen, the degradation process begins. The people I
knew who were working on this project were targeting 72 hours until
the DVD was no longer playable. So, I suppose it?s possible to vary
the degradation period somewhat.

I would think this would have economic potential for a company like
Netflix. It would substantially reduce their operating cost since
there would be no need to return the DVD and hence no need to receive
it back into their system. Of course this assumes that the cost of the
DVD is low enough to support a throwaway disk.