To be respected, DVD zoning must respect its users

[ElDiabloConCaca]

Originally Posted by aicul

Heres a legal issue.

Facts:
a) Loading a zone free DVD on a brand new Mac will generate a zone change.

b) Thereafter, loading a zone free DVD does not generate a zone change.

My legal point is that if behaviour (b) is correct, then (a) is incorrect. Or the opposite. But both cannot be correct at the same time.

The first time you use a new Mac's DVD drive, you must specify a zone -- regardless of the kind of DVD you insert (region-free, protected, whatever). Besides, most "region-free" DVDs are not truly "region-free." They just have all regions enabled for them, so you have to set a zone on the DVD drive so that the DVD drive/software can check to make sure the zone you set is one of the zones set on the DVD disk (which it will be for a "region-free" DVD, but still -- your DVD drive must be set to one of those 7 or 8 zones to be able to view a DVD that is enabled for use in all zones, ie. "region-free").

Besides, as said before, changing zones on a DVD player is meant for people who up and move their computer to a different continent/region. It's not meant so that you can watch different region DVDs for a limited time until you run out of region changes.

[scruffy]

It's at most questionable whether Apple is required to respect zone encoding in the US. In most countries they're not required to. In some countries it is in fact illegal to sell DVD players that do respect region coding (New Zealand for sure, possibly others). And, various cases in various countries are challenging the entire practice as being an illegal market manipulation under WTO rules.

Anyway, it's simply impossible for region coding to respect its users - the very idea is disrespectful of honest paying customers. There's no way it's about piracy - pirates will always be able to make bit for bit identical copies of DVDs, region encoding and all; and that's what they mostly do. It's all about restricting the fair use of DVDs by consumers.

[aicul]

I agree zoneing is questionable, but understand that film industry wants get to paid for its work. I have no qualms about that. I understand that this implies that some of my freedom is hindered by this, but I can accept this in exchange of "entertainment".

I just think that the two examples I indicated above show that the practical implementation of the ground rules governing DVD zoning can DEFINITELY be improved. After all when one faces such pointless problems, what prevents him from 1, getting truly annoyed and 2, converting their DVD to RPC1?

I fully abide to scruffy's comment on pirates.

I remember a time when VHS would be issued over a year after movie premier. This meant the movie had ample time to premier throughout the world. Today, DVDs follow the movie premier date by a few months. So a movie DVD can be available in countries where the movie has not premiered yet. Maybe the majors should rethink their marketing concept, how about world-wide premier of movies, followed by world-wide distribution of DVD. No need for zoning....

[scruffy]

I don't think its about protecting the premiers.

That's what the film industry says, but as you say, if they wanted to do that, they could just premier the movies simultaneously, or just hold off on selling the DVDs like they used to with VHS.

My theory is it's about segmented pricing. Movies in the UK cost up to double what they do in the US, for example. If they didn't have region coding, movie resellers could just order from US distributorships, and end the whole racket.

That's precisely the issue on which it's being challenged as a violation of WTO agreements - it's preventing the trade of goods from one region into another, so as to prop up artificially high prices of those same goods in some regions.

[aliensub]

Originally Posted by btoneill

Next time pick a legal issue to complain about, not complaining about how Apple is simply enforcing copyright laws they are bound to comply to.
Brian

The region code is not a law, but the movie industry´s way to control the market. You don´t break any law by bypassing the region code. The only thing you mess up with e.g. firmware hacks is at best your warranty.
just to clear that one up.

[lurk]

Depends on where you live. If you are in the US then the DMCA will get you, not for breaking the region code but for circumventing the protections in order ot break it. The EU was also dangerously close to enacting a similar directive but I have to admit I don't remember if it went through.

[bobw]

http://www.epinions.com/elec-review-...39077F49-prod6

Why Did They Make Regions?

When studios initially release a movie in theaters, the first country to see it is usually America. Six months later, (more or less) theaters in Japan and Europe show their first screening, six months after that Asia, and so on following in the order of region codes. Meanwhile, 6-18 months after a studio releases a movie in America, the American DVD (region #1) is released for home viewing. What often ends of occurring, is that Americans and Canadians have the opportunity to own their own personal copy of a movie before someone in China can see it in a movie theater.

This in itself is not a big problem, where the problem lies is in the potential for cashing in on the time difference. With the explosion of the internet, people in America (if the codes were not implemented) could have bought American DVDs and sold them to people in China who in turn would not go to the theater to see the movie. This time lag, without region codes, would have meant tremendous box office losses (or lack of gains) in other countries.

Region codes also allow studios to sell their DVDs to match different market demands. In some countries, where per capita income is lower and consequently people have less disposable income, DVDs are priced less. Conversely, in America where people have more disposable income and where the demand for DVDs is greater the prices are higher.

Law Breaking

According to OpenDVD.org, DVD players with region codes are illegal in New Zealand. Additionally, DVD regions are rumored to violate certain World Trade Organization laws.
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In the US, courts are hearing cases involving changing the region codes, or eliminating them. California Courts have issued victory for a publisher of a Region removal code, but it's expected the CA Supreme Court will over turn this decision.