--- 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 mail command that generates "Resent-" fields (ask your local user support or consult the documentation of your mail program if in doubt), it will be distributed and the explanations you are now reading will be removed automatically. If on the other hand you edit the contributions you receive into a digest, you will have to remove this paragraph manually. Finally, you should be able to contact the author of this message by using the normal "reply" function of your mail program. ----------------- Message requiring your approval (25 lines) ------------------ 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