Tonight I watched a dvd on my new computer. Upon inserting the disk a window opened with the option of setting the region or ejecting the disk. It also informed me that I would only be able to set the region 6 more times. I didn't like the sounds of it but I went ahead and chose to set the region and the dvd began playing immediately.
I've read this article and although I feel I now understand what the regions are and why they exist, I'm wondering if anyone has advice on whether I should get some software that let's me get around this region jazz.
Any thoughts Jim?
I found this line from the article interesting "If on the other-hand you plan to purchase DVDs from other regions (which might or might not be illegal) then making your DVD player capable of playing all regions is the best and cheapest way to go." So being an American and purchasing a dvd in say, London may be illegal?
Also, region codes may actually be illegal in New Zealand and violate some World Trade Organization laws?
Hey, I said I found it interesting, not surprising.
opendvd.org
This is exactly the kind of thing I hate. It is so frustrating. And it's just the tip of the iceburg. They (large entertainment copyright holders) want to embed this sort of thing into every digital device. Microsoft is on board. Intel is on board. Our access to general purpose computers is in jeapordy. I know that sounds far fetched, but it's not.
Dvd region coding is one example. The new windows media player is another. Did you know if you rip mp3s with WMP it adds in a unique identifier ke produced from the unique hardware signiture of your machine. So if your computer dies, and yo buy a new machine and put the old hard drive in it, none of your mp3s will work! Thanks microsoft
Yes, it is true that presently, if you even know this is enabled by default, you can turn this "feature" off. But you also agree in the EULA that microsoft can remotely, without warning you, update the software at any time! I feel sure the ability to switch this off will soon go away.
Eldred v. Ashcroft is going to be a very important case. (Although it won't have any effect on this dvd region coding nonsense.)
By the way, you can still buy dvd players from the far east that are region coding free. I think apex is one maker.
The region coding system resides in the firmware of your DVD player (it's not part of the operating system.) You can change it six times, and then you'd have to bring it into a dealer to have it reset, which will give you an additional 6 times. Apparently you can have it reset 3 times.
There are firmware patches you can download from the internet. There is a similar, mac specific site, here. I have never attempted this, so I have no idea if they work, or if they could do harm.
Hmmm. Seems dodgy. Probably worh a try though. Maybe after I've had the region change six times option changed three times.
Honestly, I doubt I'll even go through one 6 region change cycle. Of course that's not the point.
No wonder people are hacking through their precious copyright protections. What fools.
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I've read this article and although I feel I now understand what the regions are and why they exist, I'm wondering if anyone has advice on whether I should get some software that let's me get around this region jazz.
Any thoughts Jim?
I found this line from the article interesting "If on the other-hand you plan to purchase DVDs from other regions (which might or might not be illegal) then making your DVD player capable of playing all regions is the best and cheapest way to go." So being an American and purchasing a dvd in say, London may be illegal?
Also, region codes may actually be illegal in New Zealand and violate some World Trade Organization laws?
Hey, I said I found it interesting, not surprising.
- steve 10-06-2002 3:09 pm
opendvd.org
- steve 10-06-2002 3:31 pm [add a comment]
This is exactly the kind of thing I hate. It is so frustrating. And it's just the tip of the iceburg. They (large entertainment copyright holders) want to embed this sort of thing into every digital device. Microsoft is on board. Intel is on board. Our access to general purpose computers is in jeapordy. I know that sounds far fetched, but it's not.
Dvd region coding is one example. The new windows media player is another. Did you know if you rip mp3s with WMP it adds in a unique identifier ke produced from the unique hardware signiture of your machine. So if your computer dies, and yo buy a new machine and put the old hard drive in it, none of your mp3s will work! Thanks microsoft
Yes, it is true that presently, if you even know this is enabled by default, you can turn this "feature" off. But you also agree in the EULA that microsoft can remotely, without warning you, update the software at any time! I feel sure the ability to switch this off will soon go away.
Eldred v. Ashcroft is going to be a very important case. (Although it won't have any effect on this dvd region coding nonsense.)
By the way, you can still buy dvd players from the far east that are region coding free. I think apex is one maker.
- jim 10-06-2002 7:03 pm [add a comment]
The region coding system resides in the firmware of your DVD player (it's not part of the operating system.) You can change it six times, and then you'd have to bring it into a dealer to have it reset, which will give you an additional 6 times. Apparently you can have it reset 3 times.
There are firmware patches you can download from the internet. There is a similar, mac specific site, here. I have never attempted this, so I have no idea if they work, or if they could do harm.
- jim 10-08-2002 12:15 am [add a comment]
Hmmm. Seems dodgy. Probably worh a try though. Maybe after I've had the region change six times option changed three times.
Honestly, I doubt I'll even go through one 6 region change cycle. Of course that's not the point.
No wonder people are hacking through their precious copyright protections. What fools.
- steve 10-08-2002 12:27 am [add a comment]