• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

Is making your DVD region free legal?

Status
Not open for further replies.

RedDwarf

Smegging smeg of a smeg!
I know that there are copyright laws regarding the sale of region specific DVD's, but is changing a players firmware to be region free illegal? I know certain shops offer these modded players for sale, but can't figure out the actual legality. Anyone know?
 

luxsol

Member
As legal as buying a modchip for your PS2 to play Japanese/America/whatever-reigion-you're-not-in games.
 

demi

Member
I wish my DVD was region free, so I can watch my Spaced Collector's Set and DANGER 10,000 VOLTS dvds :(

:(
 

RedDwarf

Smegging smeg of a smeg!
I found my answer in the Digital Millennium Copyright Act which reminded me that anything that circumvents copy protection is currently illegal. Silly DMCA.
 

Shinobi

Member
demi said:
I wish my DVD was region free, so I can watch my Spaced Collector's Set and DANGER 10,000 VOLTS dvds :(

:(

Buy the latest Action Replay Max or similiar device from Gameshark for PS2...that should help you out.
 

Neo_ZX

Member
I found my answer in the Digital Millennium Copyright Act which reminded me that anything that circumvents copy protection is currently illegal.

Remember that marker trick? Sharpies are illegal!

Copyright law needs an overhaul.
 

Miburou

Member
RedDwarf said:
I found my answer in the Digital Millennium Copyright Act which reminded me that anything that circumvents copy protection is currently illegal. Silly DMCA.

What does making a player region-free have to do with copy protection? Bootleg DVDs are all-region anyway.
 

RedDwarf

Smegging smeg of a smeg!
What does making a player region-free have to do with copy protection?

In most cases, removing the region coding also messes with the discs copy protection, enabling the copying of said disc. I don't care and have a region free player, this question came up with a co-worker and the legality was questioned.
 

cvxfreak

Member
It doesn't seem to be illegal.

Either way, I have DVD Players from Region 1 and Region 2 (as well as Region 3-5 via my modded Panasonic Q :D).
 

Phoenix

Member
Neo_ZX said:
Remember that marker trick? Sharpies are illegal!

FALSE :)

The act of circumventing the CD protection with the marker is what's illegal - not the posession of the marker itself. Its the same reason why you can own a duplicator for just about any form of media in existence - legally.
 

G4life98

Member
Phoenix said:
FALSE :)

The act of circumventing the CD protection with the marker is what's illegal - not the posession of the marker itself. Its the same reason why you can own a duplicator for just about any form of media in existence - legally.

but if some of the crazy legislation they are proposing goes through... the shear fact that they can enable piracy would make them illegal
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom