Whats the point of having region codes on DVDs and DVD players?
By apples99
@apples99 (6556)
United States
April 6, 2011 9:51pm CST
I don't fully get why its necessary to add region codes to DVDs and DVD players, I guess its some form of copyright protection or something, but do we really need codes on electronic items really whats the point of that? why shouldn't paying customers be able to buy and play whatever they like anywhere they like so long as they paid for it
Please tell me whats the point of region codes also share any other opinions you have on region codes?
3 responses
@Jaytech (2251)
•
10 Apr 11
When DVD's first came out, some countries like here in the UK released movies to the cinema 6 months behind America. So instead of going to the cinema, people were just buying the DVD's online from American suppliers which meant the Uk cinemas were making losses. So they brought in a regions system, not that it really stopped it because pretty much all DVD players can be made multi region by simply inputting a code which can be found online.
@apples99 (6556)
• United States
10 Apr 11
I Purchased my first UK DVD recently, and I hope my DVD player can play it, the DVD I bought is a classic anime style cartoon its one of my favorite childhood cartoons but there were no US copies made or none left here.
As for region codes you posted some interesting reasons I still think region codes are domb though, but I have a better understanding of why they were added.
@Jaytech (2251)
•
10 Apr 11
There is a way around your particular problem if the UK DVD won't plauy on your system. You can do a copy of it with pc software that will remove the region code, just burn it then to a blank DVD. Although I'm not sure what the legalities of this are, so best look into it beforehand.
But I do agree, it is more awkward rules making it dificult to do something simple like watch a DVD
@allyoftherain (7208)
• United States
8 Apr 11
Some copyright distribution plans don't extend to everywhere in the world. So any copies that are outside of the allowed regions might not work. I think that copyrights should extend to everywhere and I don't see why they aren't allowed in some places, but for whatever reason it doesn't happen.
@frontvisions101 (16043)
• Philippines
8 Apr 11
I don't know exactly but there are DVD's that has alternate language so maybe they're optimizing the distribution to territories. Or maybe it's a good way to locate certain DVD's just in case it's reported as damaged or something. I don't know the exact reason why they put those.
