OK, I am gathering some more information for you. I have read that it is the adhesive on all labels. Any drive that can become hot, including computer drives and DVD players can cause the adhesive to melt or loosen. I fully understand your wanting information backed up, not just thrown around. Here are some comments found on a Google search for stick on labels for DVDs, and a couple of websites with warnings and information:
From CDFreaks.com:
+Labelling rule 1 - never apply anything other than round labels with a proper centering applicator.... I'm sure we've seen CDs labelled with one square label, but at current speeds the imbalance would be intolerable.+
+The weight imbalance of a properly applied label should be minimal.+
+Next problem, keep it CLEAN, as the label must stick firmly, so no dust, grit or greasy fingerprints!+
+And get it smooth - if you ruck the label, it's better to re-burn than try to fix a badly applied label.+
+So we come to the real problems of the label....+
+1. Reaction between adhesive and media topcoat - more troublesome with media that has no additional top treatent.+
+2. Peeling of the label due to time, weak adhesive - a partially peeled label will cause serious problems.+
+3. Peeling of label into slotloader - it's a good idea NEVER to use adhesive-labelled media in a slotloader - as they can peel a label that would otherwise have been OK+
Another post from same site:
+Do not use those stick on labels. You will probably find that they look great, until 3 months from now, or 6 months from now, or perhaps a year from now, when most (or even all) of those burned DVDs suddently stop playing correctly on your DVD players. Do a search, and read some of the the experiences of others in this area.+
+Either use a "Sharpie," and just write on the discs -- or purchase one of the printers that is capable of printing directly onto the discs. If you do the latter, purchase high quality "PRINTABLE" media (for example, the printable Taiyo Yuden or the printable Verbatim).+
+You will thank yourself later.+
+In the US, the only printers sold that can do this happen to be Epson (due to a patent dispute). I paid $69.99 for my Epson R200, since it has now been discontinued. You may still find it in stores, though. The new model (the Epson R220) is widely available for about $100.+
+I paid $1.29 for my Sharpie. Your pricing may vary, a lot.+
+Avoid a nightmare on down the road. Avoid stick-on labels on DVDs. They have not generally caused problems on CDs, but the DVD is a much more "precise" critter, and most of those who have tried to use labels on them regret it eventually, according to every thread I have read on this topic, on five different popular forums.+
And, here is a CD/DVD Labeling Tips site:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/349969/cddvdlabeling_tips_avoid_thosestickon.html
Check out the longest post here:
http://forum.doom9.org/archive/index.php/t-62490.html
And, just FYI, an interesting commentary about Disk Rot and how to avoid it:
http://forums.creativecow.net/archivethread/24/575169#575185
You are right...my analogy was not quite right 🙂
I just don't want to see you go to the trouble of creating nice stick-on labels and having problems with them some time in the future.
