--- Forwarded Message from Carine Ullom <[log in to unmask]> ---
>Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2003 15:39:36 -0400
>From: Carine Ullom <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
>To: LLTI <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Flashing DVD-ROMS
Hello colleagues,
The discussion of region-free/zone-free DVDs has largely centered on DVD
**players** thus far. At St. Lawrence University we've implemented a
solution that involves flashing DVD-ROMs and some other tweaks to
circumvent region checking. I'll be talking about our scenario, in
hopes others may benefit, at CALICO in May. In the meantime, I've been
asked by higher ups here if other schools are doing this. My take on it
is that flashing the DVD-ROM is in the same "grey" zone as altering a
DVD player to be region free. While it's most definitely not a
copyright issue (that is, the ability to play DVDs from all regions
isn't a copyright violation and we don't use our multi-region equipment
for any other purpose), my understanding is that the motion picture
industry doesn't make law. Therefore, although they're working hard to
control their industry by striking deals with the makers of DVD-ROMs,
DVD Players, DVD software developers, and indeed Amazon.fr (which won't
allow purchase of French DVDs sent to addresses outside of France (or is
it Europe? not sure), that doesn't mean that those who circumvent their
policies are inviolation of a law, correct? I'm searching the archives
for previous discussions on the legality of this endeavor but it's slow
going. So far I've found #4805.3 DVD-Regional Standards by Micheal Bush
(Mike, did you ever publish an article on this topic?)
In summary, 2 questions:
Do you flash DVD-ROMs at your school?
Is flashing DVD-ROMs illegal?
I'll take my answers off the air (Send to me privately. If enough
interest, I'll post a summary).
Regards,
Carine
--
Carine Ullom
Director, Language Resource Center/
Instructional Technology Specialist
Department of Modern Languages & Literatures
St. Lawrence University
Canton, NY 13617
[log in to unmask]
315-229-5857 (tel)
http://www.stlawu.edu/lrc
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