Quote:
Originally Posted by JSWolf
The region code on a DVD is meant to prevent that DVD from being watched outside of the region the code says is allowable.
OK, it's not just the US, but region 1 is United States, Canada, Bermuda, Caribbean, U.S. territories.
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...and anywhere where region-free players are sold.
Region codes *now* work by preventing Disks from being played on a device not licensed to play them. Which region-free DVD players are.
Remember that the region-free DVD players don't remove the DRM or circumvent it, but rather they use the keys that were licensed to them to unlock the DRM wrapper the way the system (and the law) wants it done. At no time is anybody cracking or bypassing the DRM scheme itself so DMCA does not apply. Buying out of region DVDs and viewing is simple Fair Use: when you buy a DVD you expect to be able to watch it anywhere just as you can read a book anywhere.
To view any DVD you are supposed to buy a licensed player and buy the disks.
That is what the system wants and that is how viewing out-of-region DVDs works: you buy a player and you buy the disk. No special knowledge or manuever needed. If you find a local importer you don't even go out of country.
Viewing geo-restricted streams?
You're not buying anything. You have no fair use rights, no first sale rights, nothing. It is a viewing contract and you agree to those terms--and then use technical means to violate the contract you signed.
One last time, people: the players are legal and the content owners are being paid full market price, which is more than can be said of used DVD sales. Or pirate editions.
Not the same thing.
Period.