Are region-free/multi-format DVDs banned in the US? (1 Viewer)

[MickeS]

Or why do no national B&M chains like Circuit City or Best Buy sell them? Obviously manufacturers have no problem wth selling region-free players in the rest of the world, so why are they so hard to find and so expensive in the US?

/Mike

 

[JohnnyG]

They are not illegal to sell or own, but technically, they are illegal to manufacture. When you license the 'DVD' logo and technology, the agreement stipulates that all players must be hard-coded to one region. Obviously, if you are going to make a region-free player then, you want to keep it as quiet as possible.

 

[MickeS]

So why is it no problem to do this anywhere else in the world? Virtually all players sold in the rest of the world are region-free. Are the licensing requirements different there?

/Mike

 

[Jeff Ery]

Johnny, It's almost out of neccesity ...all the movies that are in demand worldwide are American and pirated right out of the gate for worldwide distribution....no one would buy a unit that wont play this regions dvd's......When I tell people that the one's being sold in the US that are that way are modified by someone who (more than likely) stuck their paws into the machine to "modify" it, thus voiding the warranty....sony, among others will not work on these units at all if they need repairs...

 

[Steve Owen]

It is impossible to answer the questions at hand without getting into a lengthy political discussion, which is against the rules here. Suffice to say that region coding continues to exist (and will continue to exist) in the United States due primarly to the cozy relationship between media conglomerates and lawmakers.

-Steve

 

[Thomas Newton]

When you license the 'DVD' logo and technology, the agreement stipulates that all players must be hard-coded to one region.

I believe in some countries region coding is considered to be an illegal restraint of trade. Wasn't that the case in Australia?

 

[Jeff Kleist]

Yes,Australia and New Zealand are on the crux of and Have made region coding illegal

Those region free decks in other countries are chipped after they leave the factory, or are easily hacked with service remotes.

The bottom line is that 98% of the US is simply not interested in foreign entertainment or in seeking out better versions of movies from elsewhere. Quotes I've heard "If it's any good they'll dub it" "If it's any good, they'll make an American version" "I don't care" etc etc etc