A controlling device having keys actuatable to emit signals to a consumer appliance and a releasable media storage device having data which is readable by the controlling device. At the controlling device at least a subset of the keys of the controlling device are selectively enabled or disabled as a function of the data read from the releasable media storage device. The releasable media storage device thus limits the ability of a user to interact with the consumer appliance via actuation of certain of the subset of keys of the controlling device.