Watermarked DVDs?
Dear Gary: Can you help us with some information concerning the new action by DVD producers to avoid the playing of Zone 1 discs in Zone 4 (and other) areas. The DVD merchants in New Zealand claim a God-given right to buy and sell these discs on the basis that the distributor in the USA has exported the discs to them. The HiFi dealers, importers and resellers who are struggling with a re-zoning problem in the hardware (DVD players) say that the consumer in New Zealand has no right to expect the players to play all discs because the distributor in the USA does not have the legal right to distribute (export) the discs outside the USA especially to resellers such as video rental company’s. Who is correct or what is the legal situation in the USA for the distribution of DVDs? I hope you can help as the problem is getting very bad to the point where consumers are shying away from purchasing DVD players.
Wayne Patterson, Eastern Hifi Limited, New Zealand
mailto:howick@easternhifi.co.nz
Editor-In-Chief Gary Reber Comments:
The latter is the case. Region 1 discs are ONLY to be distributed in Region 1 geographical zones. Studios are implementing new codes on their DVDs that prevent DVDs from being played on modified DVD players to enforce their rights to control distribution of their copyrighted product. That’s the situation. This will surely upset DVD fans in many countries who have been purchasing DVD players that have been modified to play all regions.
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