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Product package, comprising a data storage device, packaging material, and an authentication system. The authentication system comprises first and second coatings coated on the storage device and the packaging material. One of the coatings comprises chromogenic microcapsules capable of reacting to p

Product package, comprising a data storage device, packaging material, and an authentication system. The authentication system comprises first and second coatings coated on the storage device and the packaging material. One of the coatings comprises chromogenic microcapsules capable of reacting to produce color. The other coating comprises color developer. The coatings can be bonded to each other or a composite coating can be a self-contained color former such as on the storage device. The invention further comprises methods of affirming authenticity of a data storage device. The method comprises applying to the storage device a color-reactable coating which can react with a color-producing second composition, packaging the storage device to provide a closed and sealed packaged, opening the package, and concurrent with or after opening the package, reacting the chemical compositions to produce the color as an indication of authenticity of the data storage device.

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1. A closed product package, comprising:(a) as a contained product, a primary electronic data storage-device adapted to receive and store data in electronic format; (b) packaging material comprising enclosure structure generally enclosing said data storage device; and (c) an authentication system ad

1. A closed product package, comprising:(a) as a contained product, a primary electronic data storage-device adapted to receive and store data in electronic format; (b) packaging material comprising enclosure structure generally enclosing said data storage device; and (c) an authentication system adapted to affirm authenticity of source of said data storage device, said authentication system comprising (i) a first coating, comprising a color developer material, coated on a first one of an outer surface of said primary data storage device, and a surface of said packaging material, said color forming material being contained in a population of microcapsules, and (ii) a second coating, comprising a color developer material, coated on the other of the outer surface of said primary data storage device and the surface of said packaging material, said first and second coatings, in the closed package, being in face-to-face close association with each other, or in contact with each other, such that manipulation of the packaging material relative to the contained product releases the color forming material from the microcapsules whereby the color forming material is contacted by, and reacts with, the color developer material, to produce visible color.2. A product package as in claim 1 wherein said first coating comprises said color developer and said second coating comprises said microcapsules containing said color former.3. A product package as in claim 1 wherein said second coating comprises said color developer and said first coating comprises said microcapsules containing said color former.4. A product package as in claim 1, said packaging material comprising a sheet material separate and distinct from both said enclosure structure and said data storage device and enclosed in said product package with said data storage device, said first coating being coated onto said sheet material.5. A product package as in claim 4, said sheet material being releasably attached to said data storage device.6. A product package as in claim 4, said sheet material being attached to said enclosure structure.7. A product package as in claim 1 wherein said first coating defines at least one of alphanumeric indicia, graphics, and logos.8. A product package, comprising:(a) as a contained product, a primary data storage device capable of receiving and storing data in electronic format; (b) packaging material comprising enclosure structure generally enclosing said data storage device; and (c) an authentication system for affirming authenticity of source of said data storage device, said authentication system comprising (i) a first coating coated on a first one of an outer surface of said primary data storage device, and a surface of said packaging material, and (ii) a second coating coated on the other of the outer surface of said primary data storage device and the surface of said packaging material, and one of said first and second coatings comprising a population of microcapsules containing substantially colorless color forming material capable of reacting to produce visible color, the other of said first and second coatings comprising color developer material which can chemically react with said color forming material to produce visible colorwherein said first coating is coated onto said enclosure structure and said second coating is coated onto said primary data storage device, and wherein said first and second coatings are bonded to each other in the closed package such that such bond therebetween is broken when said package is opened, with corresponding breaking of ones of said microcapsules and reaction of said color forming material to form color.9. A product package as in claim 1 wherein said first coating is symmetric with respect to a central axis of said primary data storage device.10. A product package as in claim 1 wherein said first coating comprises at least a first coating element and a second coating element, said first and second coating elements being physically spaced from each other, and wherein said first coating element and said second coating element, in combination, are symmetric with respect to each other when referenced to a central axis of rotation of the primary data storage device.11. A product package as in claim 1 wherein the first outer surface of said primary data storage device defines an outer edge-to-outer edge projected area of said primary data storage device, and wherein said first coating is disposed inwardly toward a center of such projected area with respect to any portion of said primary data storage device on which data is stored.12. A product package, comprising:(a) as a contained product, a primary data storage device capable of receiving and storing data in electronic format; (b) packaging material comprising enclosure structure generally enclosing said data storage device; and (c) an authentication system for affirming authenticity of source of said data storage device, said authentication system comprising (i) a first coating coated on a first one of an outer surface of said primary data storage device, and a surface of said packaging material, and (ii) a second coating coated on the other of the outer surface of said primary data storage device and the surface of said packaging material, and one of said first and second coatings comprising a population of microcapsules containing substantially colorless color forming material capable of reacting to produce visible color, the other of said first and second coatings comprising color developer material which can chemically react with said color forming material to produce visible colorwherein said second coating is disposed on a cover of said enclosure structure which is in face-to-face close association with the first outer surface of said primary data storage device when said package is closed with said primary data storage device inside, and wherein said second coating is positioned on an inner surface of said cover so as to overlie said first coating on said primary data storage device when said package is closed, whereby pressure on an outer surface of said cover causes said cover to deflect so as to bring said second coating into engaging contact with said first coating sufficient to break said microcapsules and produce visible color.13. A method of affirming authenticity of a primary electronic data storage device, comprising:(a) applying to an outer surface of the primary data storage device a coating comprising a first chemical composition which can be reacted with a second different chemical composition to produce a color; (b) packaging the primary data storage device, bearing the coating composition, and a second such different chemical composition which is reactable with the first chemical composition to produce a visible color, in packaging material so as to provide a closed and sealed package containing the primary data storage device, and containing both the first chemical composition and the second chemical composition in face-to-face close association with each other, or in contact with each other; and (c) subsequent to packaging the primary data storage device, opening the package and thereby manipulating the packaging material relative to the contained product thereby to cause mixing of the first and second chemical compositions, and corresponding production of color as an indication of authenticity of the data storage device. 14. A method as in claim 13 wherein the coating on the outer surface of the primary data storage device comprises a first coating comprising microcapsules collectively containing at least one of chromogenic material capable of reacting to produce a color as the first chemical composition, or color developer as the second composition, the method further comprising:(e) as part of the packaging material, providing a coated sheet in the closed and sealed package, the coated sheet comprising a substrate, and a second coating thereon as the second different chemical composition, the second different chemical composition comprising the other of the chromogenic material and the color developer reactive with the chromogenic material in the first coating. 15. A method as in claim further comprising returning the coated sheet, with the color developed thereon, to an authorized authentication facility for authentication of the primary data storage device in accord with the color so developed.16. A method as in claim 14, further comprising authenticating the primary data storage device through comparison of the developed color on the coated sheet with a color standard.17. A method as in claim 13 wherein the coating on the outer surface of the primary data storage device comprises a first coating comprising (i) as a first component, microcapsules containing at least one of chromogenic material capable of reacting to produce a color as the first chemical composition, or color developer as the second composition and (ii) as a second component, the other of the chromogenic material and the color developer, the method further comprising:(e) subsequent to providing the closed and sealed package, breaking ones of the microcapsules so as to commingle the first and second chemical compositions and thereby produce the color indication. 18. A method of affirming authenticity of a primary electronic data storage device, comprising:(a) applying to an outer surface of the primary electronic data storage device a first coating comprising one of (i) a first color forming material which can be reacted with a second different color developer material to produce a color and (ii) the second color developer material; and (b) applying the other of the first and second materials as a second coating, to a surface of a packaging material, one of the first and second coatings comprising a population of microcapsules containing the first color forming material; (c) packaging the primary data storage device in a closed package having a seal thereon, and comprising the packaging material; and (d) subsequent to packaging the primary data storage device, manipulating the packaging material relative to the contained product and thereby activating the color forming material into contact with the color developer, thereby to produce the color as an indication of authenticity of the data storage device. 19. A method as in claim 18 wherein the coating on the outer surface of the primary data storage device comprises the first coating, which comprises microcapsules containing the first color forming material the method further comprising:(e) as part of the packaging material, providing a coated sheet in the closed and sealed package, the coated sheet comprising a substrate, and a second coating thereon as the second color developer material; and (f) bringing the first and second materials into activating contact with each other thereby to activate a reaction between the first and second materials and accordingly to develop the color on the coated sheet. 20. A method as in claim 19, further comprising returning the coated sheet, with the color developed thereon, to an authorized authentication facility for authentication of the primary data storage device in accord with the color so developed.21. A method as in claim 19, further comprising authenticating the primary data storage device through comparison of the developed color on the coated sheet with a color standard.