DVD Region Encoding on Verge of Collapse?

Spudley writes "It seems like the infamous Region Encoding system used by DVD manufacturers to prevent us buying disks from overseas is about to collapse - due to widespread flaunting of the system. This article on the BBC doesn't go into much technical detail, but does include an interview with a company that manufactures DVD players ("You can find codes for more or less all brands of DVD player including ours") and some speculation on the future." It always seemed like an idea destined to fail.

"A normal remote control"?

[Anonymous Coward]

You might be able to hack DVD players using their own remote control, but I doubt it'd work with the Sky satellite remote pictured in the article ;)

Great Graphic

[twoshortplanks]

The BBC have a history of having "wonderful" graphics to go with their stories. In this case there's a picture of a Sky Digital (satalite) remote control, which I doubt very much could be used to reprogram a DVD player, and a grinning moron (no offence) with a N64 controller...

At least it's not as bad as some [bbc.co.uk] bad [bbc.co.uk] examples [bbc.co.uk]. (links stolen from ntk [ntk.net]

Agreed

[George Michael]

Read the usage note [dictionary.com]

If proper English is to be saved, it must start with Slashdotters!

Re:why?

[Anonymous Coward]

Undergound shops? Yeah, these little shops are well underground [play.com] In fact, you have to go DEEP underground [richersounds.co.uk] to find a shop [tesco.com] that would sell [asda.com] region free players!

O.K, I guess it depends on exactly where you are in this big place called "Europe", but hey, I've got stacks of R1 disks...

Re:why?

[rekoil]

To translate a film from American English to U.K English? What do they do, overdub "F*cking" with "bloddy" every time it's uttered?

Re:Speak with your money, not with your mouth

[comcn]

If you want to "free" your computer's DVD drive, see The Firmware Page [club-internet.fr]. They have firmwares for lots of hardware. Just check there before you buy.

Re:Price Controls

[Odinson]

" If region encoding fails, it's going to hurt people in poorer countries far more than it will us."

Yea, if you really consider not being able to afford the Britney Spears Live video being hurt.

Hollywood is evil..

[AftanGustur]

Those of you who haven't yet figured out just how evil hollywood is, absolutely have to read this ! [landoverbaptist.org]

Makes you wonder what this world is coming to !

Re:Head Butt?

[Ronin SpoilSpot]

Funny, actually. I usually hear it as:
Many Americans are more concerned by depictions of naked people or sex than by violence. /RS - European