Region encoding was created to give the studios geographic control over DVD release dates and to help stop copyright infringement. It had nothing to do with selling the rights to do with duplication and everything to do with control of product. The DVD Forum originally wanted to make DVD region...
No, it was all marketing. NHK (the national TV broadcaster) even said that because one of the questions asked was why it took so long to come to Japan.
Actually, translations are begun as soon as the script is finished. The people that do the translation get almost the same amount of time, sometimes more, as the people who write the novelizations. Translating into Japanese is not anymore of a difficulty than translating into Chinese (released...
Personally, I don't believe that region encoding is the real reason why piracy exists for movies. It's either Hollywood's inability or simple disregard to think worldwide when it comes to releasing their product. Every area of the world has a different release date for a movie. Using Casino...