Hi,
On Monday 18 December 2006 10:48, Vihan Pandey wrote:
Speaking of which my latest Sony DVD writer has a region setting which can be reprogrammed 5 times. After which it will stay stuck on the 5th. Now u have the possibilty of bricking your hardware (particularly with closed drivers) or purchasing your content from the last region.
Is it a hardware level lock? This REALLY stinks.
Not sure. U can reflash the cdrom bios, but dont know if it will reset the region counter.
Just to inform you that in the US and possibly other countries, all DVD writers/roms sold require to have this lock. It is mandated by the RIAA/MPAA and by extension US law so that you cannot freely change regions to play DVDs released in other regions. The fact that you can change it 5 times is a privilege extracted from these agencies by the manufacturers of the devices.
That Sony has it is not unique and it just says that they are selling the international model here in India. If other brands don't have this lock then they are probably chinese/taiwanese players who may not be fully complying with the law (if it applies in India).
Regards, Rajesh
On 12/18/06, Rajesh Rajani rajeshr@vsnl.com wrote:
Hi,
On Monday 18 December 2006 10:48, Vihan Pandey wrote:
Speaking of which my latest Sony DVD writer has a region setting which can be reprogrammed 5 times. After which it will stay stuck on the 5th. Now u have the possibilty of bricking your hardware (particularly with closed drivers) or purchasing your content from the last region.
Is it a hardware level lock? This REALLY stinks.
Not sure. U can reflash the cdrom bios, but dont know if it will reset the region counter.
Hasnt the discussion digressed completely ?
HRB
Regards,
Rajesh
On Tuesday 19 December 2006 09:11, Rajesh Rajani wrote:
Just to inform you that in the US and possibly other countries,
Afaik it's legally mandated only in a few countries. USA, austriallia for sure but not in India.
all DVD writers/roms sold require to have this lock. It is mandated by the RIAA/MPAA and by extension US law so that you cannot freely change regions to play DVDs released in other regions. The fact that you can change it 5 times is a privilege extracted from these agencies by the manufacturers of the devices.
That Sony has it is not unique and it just says that they are selling the international model here in India. If other brands don't have this lock then they are probably chinese/taiwanese players who may not be fully complying with the law (if it applies in India).
-
Harsh Busa -
jtd -
Rajesh Rajani