The real reason for DRM

[ajax2061]

purpose of DRM is not to prevent copyright violations. The purpose of DRM is to give content providers leverage against creators of playback devices. Content providers have leverage against content distributors, because distributors can't legally distribute copyrighted content without the permission of the content's creators. But if that was the only leverage content producers had, what would happen is that users would obtain their content from those content distributors, and then use third-party content playback systems to read it, letting them do so in whatever manner they wanted. ... Arguing that DRM doesn't work is, it turns out, missing the point. DRM is working really well in the video and book space. Sure, the DRM systems have all been broken, but that doesn't matter to the DRM proponents. Licensed DVD players still enforce the restrictions. Mass market providers can't create unlicensed DVD players, so they remain a black or gray market curiosity.

source

The Real Purpose of DRM - Slashdot

[Canker_Canison]

Licensed DVD players still enforce the restrictions. Mass market providers can't create unlicensed DVD players, so they remain a black or gray market curiosity.

So why are all of my DVD players region free? Pretty sure region coding is part of the DRM structure. Yet they are available from recognized manufacturers.

[tshirtman]

Re: The real reason for DRM

The region structure is there to enable different world prices,

eg: cost price

DVD in Europe = ?10
DVD in Africa = ?4

the region structure stops European retailers buying their DVD's from Africa at a considerably cheaper price,
but still allows Africa to get there DVD's at subsidised prices.

[GastonJ]

Subsidised price, you mean it really costs ?10 to make and sell a DVD or even ?4? Think you'll find that it's a lot less and the regions exist so they can make even more profit out of those lemmings who they can make pay more. libdvdcss2 is the way to go if you want region free although not if you use Windows as usual...

Of course the simple answer is to stop buying DVD's for a month or so until they drop the price, but here in the UK people don't think like that.

[tshirtman]

Re: The real reason for DRM

Subsidised price, you mean it really costs ?10 to make and sell a DVD or even ?4? Think you'll find that it's a lot less and the regions exist so they can make even more profit out of those lemmings who they can make pay more. libdvdcss2 is the way to go if you want region free although not if you use Windows as usual...

Of course the simple answer is to stop buying DVD's for a month or so until they drop the price, but here in the UK people don't think like that.

I never said I agreed with it, just stating the facts.

[ajax2061]

personally I think optical media is dying breed I much perfere streamed/downloaded media you have to have discs stored everywhere just a large hard drive and a good connection

[gmb45]

whats a dvd ?

[HappyHermit]

personally I think optical media is dying breed I much perfere streamed/downloaded media you have to have discs stored everywhere just a large hard drive and a good connection

Almost all my games are stored on steam.
But my movies and music are still on disc.
Just too lazy to rip them.

[Canker_Canison]

Of course the simple answer is to stop buying DVD's for a month or so until they drop the price, but here in the UK people don't think like that.

I've not purchased a region 2 DVD in over 4 years. The only original DVD's I have paid for are from the states. All my other DVD purchases are black media by the 100.