• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Technipages

Tutorials and fixes for smartphone, gadget, and computer problems

  • Topics
    • Android
    • Gaming
    • Hardware
    • Internet
    • iOS
    • MacOS
    • Office
    • Software
    • Windows
    • Definitions
  • Product Reviews
  • Downloads
  • About Technipages

DVD Region-Locking

By Mel Hawthorne

The region-lock feature on DVDs is an access control mechanism that is used in commercial DVD discs – it specifies the geographical region in which a DVD can be viewed. These regions are quite broad – region 1 specifies Canada and the US for example, while region 2 refers to Japan and Europe. Disks equipped with this feature (usually, ones that are sold with copyrighted content such as movies on them) are not supposed to be played outside of their region.

 

 

Technipages Explains DVD Region-Locking

This was in order to prevent audiences from viewing content that hadn’t yet been released in their local theatres, for example. It is worth noting that this is relatively low-security and quite easily circumventable. First off, it only checks if the DVD playing device is from the right region. In other words, a region 1 disk can absolutely play in Japan, if it is played in a Canadian device, for example.

There are even manufacturers that deliberately create DVD players that are capable of circumventing region locks, and if a user doesn’t have access to one of those, they can still circumvent it through the use of various computer utility tools. Circumventing these locks is illegal in some regions – including the US. In a time of virtual downloads and piracy, region-locks have become factually obsolete, although they do still exist.

Since it’s relatively easy to record and upload a movie online, physical access restrictions no longer really impact the availability of content outside of their respective area, though this is, of course, not legal.

Common Uses of DVD Region-Locking

  • DVD region locks had their heyday before online streaming became the most popular way to view and consume movies worldwide.
  • The use of DVD region locks is still common practice, though they can be bypassed with minimal effort.
  • DVD region locking may be easily circumvented, but it is usually not legal – neither is streaming or downloading movies online, unless they are distributed by licensed sources.

Common Misuses of DVD Region-Locking

  • DVD regional locks make sure that DVDs are only played in their respective geographical region by requiring a GPS (or similar) check of where a player and DVD are located before the content can be shown.

You Might Also Like

  • Fix Roku Not Available in Your Region Error
    Fix Roku Not Available in Your Region Error
  • Android: What Does Locking a Text Message Do?
    Android: What Does Locking a Text Message Do?
  • How to Find Computer Locking Active Directory Account
    How to Find Computer Locking Active Directory Account
  • Linux Mint: How to Prevent the Screensaver From Locking the Computer
    Linux Mint: How to Prevent the Screensaver From Locking the…

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • Windows 11: How to Fix Windows 11 Won’t Connect to a Network
  • What to Do When Firefox Won’t Load a Page
  • Chrome: How to Refresh Various Tabs Simultaneously
  • The Latest Foldable Phones – A Look At The Huawei Mate X2
  • Everything Announced at Google I/O 2022 That You Should Care About
  • How to Build the Best High-Spec PC for Your Budget
  • Google Shows Off Pixel 7 and Pixel Watch Ahead of Fall Launch
  • Windows 11: How to View Saved Passwords

Who’s Behind Technipages?

Baby and Daddy My name is Mitch Bartlett. I've been working in technology for over 20 years in a wide range of tech jobs from Tech Support to Software Testing. I started this site as a technical guide for myself and it has grown into what I hope is a useful reference for all.

© Copyright 2022 Technipages · All Rights Reserved · Privacy