Comments on: What is region coding? (Part 1) http://www.lawfont.com/2005/12/22/what-is-region-coding/ an analysis of law, technology, economics, and policy Thu, 29 Dec 2011 19:59:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: LawFont » The Oz DMCA Countdown http://www.lawfont.com/2005/12/22/what-is-region-coding/comment-page-1/#comment-1725 LawFont » The Oz DMCA Countdown Sat, 15 Jul 2006 10:39:58 +0000 http://www.lawfont.com/?p=160#comment-1725 [...] DRM can also be used to extend copyright owners’ control beyond what copyright provides. The classic consumer example here is region-coding. Part of the CSS ‘system’ (and it’s been explained here by my LawFont colleague, Sarah) is regional playback control (region-coding) which prevents Australian-bought DVD players from playing US-bought disks. [and yes, before all you lawyers out there point out parallel importation laws, remember that buying a movie overseas and bringing it back for personal use is not illegal]. Finally – and most disturbingly – TPMs can be used in ways that limit competition in hardware and software markets. Why? Well, let’s take that iTunes/iPod example again: [...] [...] DRM can also be used to extend copyright owners’ control beyond what copyright provides. The classic consumer example here is region-coding. Part of the CSS ‘system’ (and it’s been explained here by my LawFont colleague, Sarah) is regional playback control (region-coding) which prevents Australian-bought DVD players from playing US-bought disks. [and yes, before all you lawyers out there point out parallel importation laws, remember that buying a movie overseas and bringing it back for personal use is not illegal]. Finally – and most disturbingly – TPMs can be used in ways that limit competition in hardware and software markets. Why? Well, let’s take that iTunes/iPod example again: [...]

]]> By: LawFont » What is region coding? (Part 2) http://www.lawfont.com/2005/12/22/what-is-region-coding/comment-page-1/#comment-74 LawFont » What is region coding? (Part 2) Sat, 31 Dec 2005 09:07:04 +0000 http://www.lawfont.com/?p=160#comment-74 [...] Earlier this month I posted Part 1 of “What is region coding?”, which described the technology, commercial rationale, and economic effects of this system. This posting is Part 2, and considers the legal implications of region coding, with a focus on developments in the United States and Australia. [...] [...] Earlier this month I posted Part 1 of “What is region coding?”, which described the technology, commercial rationale, and economic effects of this system. This posting is Part 2, and considers the legal implications of region coding, with a focus on developments in the United States and Australia. [...]

]]> By: sarah http://www.lawfont.com/2005/12/22/what-is-region-coding/comment-page-1/#comment-69 sarah Thu, 22 Dec 2005 07:10:00 +0000 http://www.lawfont.com/?p=160#comment-69 Amalia -- You're right, and I've corrected the post. Thank you for pointing that out. Sarah Amalia —

You’re right, and I’ve corrected the post. Thank you for pointing that out.

Sarah

]]> By: Han http://www.lawfont.com/2005/12/22/what-is-region-coding/comment-page-1/#comment-68 Han Thu, 22 Dec 2005 06:20:30 +0000 http://www.lawfont.com/?p=160#comment-68 There are actually legal alternatives to modifying 'regioned' DVD players. I'm a Singaporean studying in Melbourne, and I suggest importation of 'region-free' DVD players from Singapore. These are DVD players made in China (is there anything that isn't nowadays) where the region codes on DVDs simply do not work. And all of them are legal too, as an exception carved out for us under the US-SG-FTA. Assuming that the AU-SG-FTA has no restrictions on such players, it would be a simple matter of just importing these players. There are actually legal alternatives to modifying ‘regioned’ DVD players.

I’m a Singaporean studying in Melbourne, and I suggest importation of ‘region-free’ DVD players from Singapore. These are DVD players made in China (is there anything that isn’t nowadays) where the region codes on DVDs simply do not work. And all of them are legal too, as an exception carved out for us under the US-SG-FTA.

Assuming that the AU-SG-FTA has no restrictions on such players, it would be a simple matter of just importing these players.

]]> By: Amalia http://www.lawfont.com/2005/12/22/what-is-region-coding/comment-page-1/#comment-67 Amalia Thu, 22 Dec 2005 04:01:35 +0000 http://www.lawfont.com/?p=160#comment-67 Hi Sarah Creation of artificial barriers to trade and reduced competition Even if importing Region 4 DVDs into Australia for sale was legal, there would be no market amongst consumers owning unmodified DVD players sold in the Australian market. Don't you mean importing Region 1? Cheers Amalia Hi Sarah

Creation of artificial barriers to trade and reduced competition

Even if importing Region 4 DVDs into Australia for sale was legal, there would be no market amongst consumers owning unmodified DVD players sold in the Australian market.

Don’t you mean importing Region 1?

Cheers
Amalia

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