Page 1 of Regional Coding Enhanced - Player Problems Expected

From http://www.dvddebate.com/article.php3?sid=1304&mode=threaded&order=0

Warner Brothers have issued an internal note on an enhanced Region Coding Scheme to DVD Suppliers in R1.

The new advanced approach may render some R1 discs unplayable on existing Multiregion players. Known discs to include this technology are The Perfect Storm and Columbia Tristar`s The Patriot. Read more to see the actual note...

Regional Code Enhancement (RCE) Program

WHV will start a program to enhance the capabilities of the regional code specification for DVD beginning in October. This program is a response to the unauthorized practice of altering DVD video hardware players so that they bypass the region code requirements for DVD. This is happening on a more frequent basis in many territories, and retailers are openly marketing these non-complying players with names such as “region free” and “multi zone”.

The Technology – The enhancement is an additional imbedded code (RCE – Regional Code Enhancement) on the DVD disc that makes the current regional coding more robust.

How It Works – In simple language, the RCE allows the disc to detect if a hardware player is region specific (as required by the CSS licensing agreement), or if it has been manufactured or altered in the market to be “region free”. If the player is “region free” the RCE will not allow the disc to play the program material. It will instead display a message on the television advising the consumer that the machine is not authorized to play this disc.

The actual wording will be as follows:

THIS DVD PLAYER MAY HAVE BEEN ALTERED AND IS UNABLE TO PLAY THIS DISC
THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THIS DISC
DVD PLAYERS AND DISCS ARE DESIGNED TO WORK IN CERTAIN REGIONS
THIS DISC IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THIS PLAYER
PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL RETAILER OR PLAYER MANUFACTURER FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
WE APOLOGIZE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE (Yeah Right!)

WHV will start applying the RCE to discs scheduled for release in the U.S. market beginning in late October. At this time, the RCE will only be applied to Region 1 versions of titles. At least one other studio (Columbia TriStar) will also be releasing discs with the RCE during the 4th quarter.

The program has two objectives. (1) Discourage the export of region 1 discs to other regions and (2) discourage the sale of DVD video hardware that has been modified to “region free”.

WHV Sales personnel should immediately begin to communicate this program to key retailers in their respective territories.

It is especially important to focus on retailers selling product online, and any account, which may be exporting products outside Region 1.

With the online retailers, we must discuss the need to properly notify consumers outside the region 1 territories that the disc may not play in their player before the disc is purchased. The customer dissatisfaction and returns risk is significant if this is not done.

At this time there is no plan to send out a press release on this program. This document should be used to review the program with all U.S. accounts.

Warner = C*NTS!

HITACHI 505 ROCKS!

I can see a major backlash developing on this one.We shouild all get
together and boycott warner product.Icluding region 1 AND region 2
titles as well.
nilesh
scan

Warner Home Video have not exactly distinguished themselves in the DVD arena.

First of all they produced poor quality, non-anamorphic two-sided discs such as Armageddon and The Right Stuff.

And they have always been lagging far behind other producers when it comes to the Special Features aspect.

Now they want to crack down on region-crossing for sales of DVD hardware and software.

What Warner fail to realise is ... WE DONT NEED THEM.

They will find out that their sales will slump in R1 but will not be compensated for by extra sales in R2. I will not pay the extra cost for buying a disc in Europe that is cheaper, and better featured, in the US. I just will go without. There are plenty of other manufacturers putting out good quality discs of good films.

Warner Home Video can kiss my ass.

This item was edited on Monday, 9th October 2000, 13:28

Except for their excellent releases such as House on Haunted Hill, Three Kings, ground breaking disc The Matrix, the brilliant The Excorsist, their early adoption of the format with big titles... and... so... on ;-)

I emailed Play247 about this as i have both The Perfect Storm and The Patriot on pre- order...this was their response.

"At the moment we have not heard of any details from our supplier. If we
hear of any confirmed details the information will be posted onto our
website."

When i asked about the Returns situation this supposed memo mentions tthey said

"We would not be able to accept the discs back as the discs would not be faulty. It will be the player that is faulty and we cannot refund or
exchange these items."

Which i guess is true if we buy R1 discs to play on hacked or mod players and the discs wont work thats our own fault, which makes me think this "memo" is BS as Warner would have the same stance as the supplier and woul`dnt even bother to mention returns in the content.

guess we will have to wait and see.

If The Patriot dont work it`ll make a great looking £17.99 coaster.

Shaun

Blimey, you lot are a bit behind the times aren`t you ? This debate has been raging at http://www.dvddebate.com for the last week. I`ve had my ten penn`orth and no mistake.

Petitions, blockades, mass e-mails to WHV employees - it`s all been suggested but all we`re doing is yakking about it.

I suggest hold the phone until Patriot comes out and the boffins at Technotronics can get their little mitts on it and come up with a magic potion.

But as Dukey says WHV=bunch of ***kers.

Apathy rules UK....

I`d argue that the discs ARE faulty. They are sold as region 2 discs. My DVD player will play all region 2 discs, as well as all region 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 discs, and has never yet had a problem. Obviously this disc has been deliberately broken by the manufacturer.

And while we`re at it, play247 really should have a better returns policy. I`m sure there`s fair trading laws relating to this sort of thing, but I have no idea how they apply to Jersey.

F*ck All applies to Jersey since they stayed loyal to the crown all those year`s ago, Pay some tax! And stop inbreeding tubbs:P

are you local?


CROMWELL ROCKS!
HITACHI 505 ROCKS!
PLAY247 ROCKS!

This item was edited on Tuesday, 10th October 2000, 09:12

The point i am making is this.

Its 2 weeks before the release date of The Patriot. Play and no other suppliers have had no notification of modification to this disk from their supplier, as stated would be the case in this "memo".

Not forgetting RCE will affect R1 player that have been hacked/modifed for other regions so they are bound to if they are using it.

Therfore memo is BS (in my opinion)

BTW They are sold as R1 discs read the disc specs at their site.

Shaun

PS I remember when i bought my first R1 disc and the anticipation when i was`nt sure if my player would be truly multiregion ..this is just like that ..stroll on the 24th : )