Is a DVD multi-region hack legal ??

03-13-07, 06:52 AM

I have been using region free software to play my region 4 and region 2 DVDs via my laptop but I think I will apply a multi-region hack to my DVD player as it would be more convenient. I am not overly concerned as I own the DVDs and the player but I was wondering where I stand from a legal or copyright point of view and who would be upset, the film companies or the hardware manufacturers.

spunker88 · 03-13-07, 07:28 AM

Im sure its illegal, just about everything is today, with technology, and the internet.

cchiang12 · 03-13-07, 07:43 AM

of course it's illegal. esp in the US.

borgyn · 03-13-07, 07:55 AM

The introduction of regionalised DVDs is with the aim to segregate the market so that different prices can be set. The content of DVD is the same possibly with the exception of default language and subtitles. Why go to the trouble of segregating markets at extra cost if not to act as a legal deterrent?

psionandy · 03-13-07, 08:02 AM

Originally Posted by borgyn

Why go to the trouble of segregating markets at extra cost if not to act as a legal deterrent?

Possibly for commercial reasons

03-13-07, 08:07 AM

Originally Posted by cchiang12

of course it's illegal. esp in the US.

Why "of course", I own the DVD's and player. How and who would I be upsetting.

borgyn · 03-13-07, 08:30 AM

Originally Posted by psionandy

Possibly for commercial reasons

and that too

.

Howard2k · 03-13-07, 09:47 AM

Originally Posted by psionandy

Possibly for commercial reasons

Right - although it's not so common now, in the "old days" we'd have movies released in North America months before some other countries. This regional segregation provided a way of enforcing that.

I believe all DVD players sold in Australia are now region free aren't they? Do we have an ocker around that can confirm that?

aximbigfan · 03-13-07, 10:40 AM

sure its illegal, but the film companys really dotn care abo9tu a single guy who spent money o nthe dvd and is just using it. besides, the dvd cant phone home so its not liek they are ever going to find out.

chris

borgyn · 03-13-07, 11:12 AM

The music industry has had some success in prosecuting so-call "illegal" users in the past (though DVD usage is not in the same vein/scale). So if they want to make an example of "illegal" users, they could pick on the single user or the illegal distributor. It could get messy.

satish_appasani · 03-13-07, 01:22 PM

In India, my Home theater dealer (the biggest dealer in my city) called me to help me unlock the dvd player one day after i bought it.

Jogga · 03-13-07, 01:30 PM

If it is illegal, why can you now purchase multi-region DVD players? A quick Google had no difficulty in finding players that can accomodate disks from all regions

As the owner of the equipment you are entitled to with it as you will, providing that it is not to break the law. If you intend to hack the player in order to watch disks that you own (and not to copy, distribute or sell) then I can't see any copyright implications.

cchiang12 · 03-13-07, 01:58 PM

The thing is this, yes it's illegal... not sure if you guys ever read the Disclaimer when you put the DVD in, things about any kind of duplication is ...... yude, da, de, da...
But, no one is really actively catching this (except catching people who's selling the copied Dvd). I mean you can buy the products to copy them, as long as no one knows, no one cares. And yes, I own my DVDs and players, but asking if it's illegal or not... well the correct answer would be yes... (esp in a public forum)

But if you are in UK, I think you can make one backup copy and that's ok.

Not sure about other contries, like China, I think you can make 50+ copies (just kidding).

====
Actually, I just realize, Graham2456, is not copying the dvd, but using a multi-lang dvd player.
Well, not sure about that, but I know few years ago, in Hong Kong, people have to go to a "special" shop to "hack" their dvd player to play say US dvd.... I believe that was on a fine line of illegal.

Jogga · 03-13-07, 02:05 PM

Originally Posted by cchiang12

The thing is this, yes it's illegal... not sure if you guys ever read the Disclaimer when you put the DVD in, things about any kind of duplication is ...... yude, da, de, da...
But, no one is really actively catching this (except catching people who's selling the copied Dvd). I mean you can buy the products to copy them, as long as no one knows, no one cares. And yes, I own my DVDs and players, but asking if it's illegal or not... well the correct answer would be yes... (esp in a public forum)

But if you are in UK, I think you can make one backup copy and that's ok.

Not sure about other contries, like China, I think you can make 50+ copies (just kidding).

I think that I must have misunderstood Graham's question; I thought that he wanted to hack his player to watch DVDs from another region, not copy them!

Copying DVDs is illegal in the UK.

cchiang12 · 03-13-07, 02:36 PM

ok, I found this:
Is it legal to use or own a Code free DVD player?

Yes, it is legal. You are legally allowed to own a Code free DVD player, but you can not use it for illegal purposes. Please check your State and Federal copyright laws for details.

from this site:
http://www.dvdbuyingguide.com/codefreedvd/bigfaq.html

And according to Wiki:
The implementation of "Region codes violate the international copyright treaty"
That's kinda interesting don't you think?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVD_region_code