While I found this to be unique and different, I think it is not very bright since no one is going to buy a chair that falls apart after one sits on it 8 times. IMO; it would be a waste of money.
If they were trying to show how silly DRM really is, I can see why they made it to do what it does.

Of course, as a pure demonstration to make a point, in that controlled situation, it's fine. And it well, though in an oversimplified manner, makes the ridiculousness-of-DRM point.
Thank goodness, though, that it's not a real product. While they got right the method of making it fall apart after the 8th sitting, and not on the 9th (because so doing would be dangerous to the 9th sitter), the slow-burn method of making the chair fall apart opens wide the door for a 9th sitter to try before the disintegration process has completed. They should have made the disintegration mechanical, not chemical, so that the chair would burst apart immediately upon the 8th sitter's rising up off the chair and getting a single step away. That would be the only safe method, were this chair a real product.
But, of course, again, it's not; and it was a demonstration to make a point in a controlled situation, and so was safe.
But I'm just sayin'.

Boy, that is some delicate seat sitting. I think it would probably fall apart sooner if you just went and sat on it like a normal chair.

Planned obsolescence of this type should be illegal unless the consumer knows of it before purchasing unlike the counter in many printers.

That was the point they are trying to make. DRM products have their place - but people should reassess what price they are willing to pay for something which is designed not to be an asset. If this was placed on the market, what would you pay for it?

@Ian McIntosh: Nothing, I won't buy something that will break. Imagen a fat person sat on the chair 2 breaks and it should have lasted 8 times, those people will sue.
@Max Kennedy, BigWarpGuy: Agree
Does the bathroom scale also count as DRM?

Gillette pioneered the disposable business model with the disposable razor vs the straight one used by people at the time. I truly hope corporations don't find a way to profit from this idea any further as it contributes to hyper consumerism and excess garbage.
Talk about not building them like they used to.

If there was an antonym for "social responcibility", "engineered obsolesence" would be it.
No one wants to buy junk, so who would want to make it?
Companies that make junk, including those who practice engineered obsolesence don't care about our planet or our future, they just want to better their bottom line in an unethical way.

DRM, (digital rights management) This is not new, temporary licenses have existed for as long as there has been software.
Paying for the digital product, is only fair IF the product actually does what it is suppose to for a fair price. Think back to simpler times when we all used devices such as pen to paper. That evolved to typewriters, and through to computers and the digital realm.
This is the crux of the matter; tangible things are easier to control.
Not just ownership, but money and power are what run the mill. Therefore manipulating all those 0’s & 1’s is BIG business, and that is fine, BUT easier to duplicate, and get for next to nothing. Maybe that’s why most people hate Microsoft. (well at least spell check capitalized the word for me).
I take a picture of Niagara falls, is the picture mine to keep, yes in either digital or traditional roll photo film. (Remember those days) Takin into account both the equipment costs, the consumables, do I need to pay for either method, yes, the roll & development of film obviously.
Classical 35mm Camera virtually $0 mine has been in the closet for 20 years. (Even 20 years ago maybe $200) $10 + $6 to print. If I get double copies, I can mail one to a friend for about a dollar. As for the digital version, oh it does not cost you anything, wrong. Smart phone $0-$800 Laptop or PC $500+ Digital camera $200 Printer $300 Inks $50 Photo paper $50 Then there is the software to capture, adjust, & optimize the quality. Then get the digital version displayed, or sent out, or if you prefer print it. Latest version of Windows™ $120 Adobe Photoshop™ $700 Provider Service Plan $600 So even if I only take two dozen pictures a year, Classical = $9 per photo (including the camera) for less than $1 I can mail the entire second set to half a dozen friends.
Accounting for the combined annual service contracts, & equipment; 24 Digital photos per year, between $34 -130+ per picture. Granted you can use most of the service and equipment for other things, but compare that to the classical camera that worked in sub zero weather.
Furthermore how to determine the acceptable level of performance of digital goods is yet another giant industry.
Is this why we want money for everything now, digital addiction….

I guess I'm missing something, but I don't understand the point of a chair that self destructs.