DVD Region Codes

Know More about DVD and DVD Region Codes

About DVD - A Success with Electronic Consumers
The DVD (Digital Video Disc) is a preferred medium for viewing, recording, and distribution of movies. DVD has been one of the most successful consumer electronics products ever since its introduction as an optical storage disc. It can store and play video, excellent quality audio, still photos, and computer data. Due to its varied set of utilities beside video, it is also called the "Digital Versatile Disc."

The DVD was first created as a 'high-density CD' in the year 1993 by a group of software companies. Two different sets of companies formulated their specific formats for the DVD. The MMCD format was supported by Philips, Sony, and some other companies, while the SD format was supported by Matsushita, Time Warner, Toshiba, and several others. A few companies led by IBM proposed the combining of two existing competing formats into a single standard format. Thus, the DVD standard format combination was formally declared in September 1995.

The DVD is not owned by any single company, as its official specifications were designed by an alliance of ten companies: JVC, Hitachi, Matsushita, Philips, Mitsubishi, Pioneer, Time Warner, Sony, Toshiba and Thomson. Time Warner had trademarked the logo for DVD at start, but thereafter, it was assigned as "DVD Format/Logo Licensing Corporation" or DVD FLLC. The term "DVD" was considered to be so common that is could not be owned or trademarked.

Region Codes on DVDs
DVD region codes is a DRM technique designed to allow motion picture studios to control aspects of a release, including content, release date, and especially, price, according to the region. DVD video discs may be encoded with a region code restricting the area of the world in which they can be played. The commercial DVD player specification requires that a player to be sold in a given place not play discs encoded for a different region.

The region code is usually marked on the back of the DVD packages with the region number superimposed over it. Sometimes it is specifically the region. If it states "available worldwide," it means that the discs is region free and will play on any player in any country.

By the way, it is legally permitted to own a code free DVD player, but it should not be used for illegal purposes. It is always advisable to check one's state and federal copyright laws as a precaution. To make sure that it is legitimate to have your DVD player modified to region free mode and view DVDs from any region code.

Region free DVD players are manufactured by many leading electronics companies such as Samsung, Toshiba, Yamaha, Pioneer, Polaroid, LG, Tenlab, Denon, and Cyberhome. And those DVDs made by video to DVD converter are usually all region and playable on any DVD player.