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Date: | Mon, 9 Feb 2004 15:51:55 EST |
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--- Forwarded Message from Judy Shoaf <[log in to unmask]> ---
>Date: Fri, 06 Feb 2004 15:10:38 -0500
>From: Judy Shoaf <[log in to unmask]>
>User-Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; WinNT4.0; en-US; rv:1.3) Gecko/20030312
>To: Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: #7405 Legality of multistandard VCRs/DVD players
>References: <[log in to unmask]>
>In-Reply-To: <[log in to unmask]>
This message was originally submitted by [log in to unmask] to the LLTI list
at LISTSERV.DARTMOUTH.EDU. If you simply forward it back to the list, using a
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I found this on a website (no date in evidence):
"Some discs contain program code that checks for the proper region.
These "smart discs" won't play on code-free players that have their
region set to 0, but they can be played on code-switchable players that
allow you to change the region using the remote control."
http://www.techtv.com/screensavers/answerstips/story/0,24330,2410817,00.html
A few years ago it was suggested on this list (to me) that the
code-switchable players are NOT violating the law or circumventing
codes, because they really do become the needed player. That is, the
code that checks for the region is the "technological measure that
effectively controls access to a protected work," and the player is not
overriding that code, it is satisfying it.
On the other hand, removing a copy protection device like Macrovision or
hacking your computer so it will change regions beyond the normal
number of switches would be illegal. Hacking a DVD player to make it
play other regions is illegal.
AND genuinely multi-region DVD players seem to be even harder to find.
Maybe the media conglomerates buy out the companies, I dunno.
Judy Shoaf
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