You find region encoding a pain? Try to download from abroad!

[Grubert]

Just read this on engadget:

The recently launched Online Cinematheque gives viewers the ability to catch short clips of select films online for free, and if they're really intrigued, they can cough up $5 to watch the whole thing. Afterwards, if they've discovered one of their new favorite films, Criterion will put the $5 rental fee towards the purchase of the title on DVD / BD.

That's not a bad idea. So I went there and thought it would be nice to rewatch Solaris. Also the 7-day window is nice in case I fall asleep and need to pick up the following day (sorry if there are any Tarkovsky fans out there).

Anyway, I click on the pic, click on "watch film $5" and lo and behold...



"Film is not authorized to be viewed in your country"

Yes, that's right. No downloads (even paid ones) to old Europe. Again the online content rule we have seen with Hulu and other providers: downloaded/streamed content is limited to what is offered in your country.

Geographical restrictions for downloaded content are actually even more stringent than those for discs.

For example, I can't even watch the highlights from last Sunday at the Premier League (that's soccer, BTW).

But I can get this:



And it'll play without a glitch on my region-B PS3, whether I am in Britain, France or Latvia.

Granted, Criterion Blu-rays are also region encoded. But at least there is an easy workaround for that, even without resorting to modding (a practice we don't condone at blu-ray.com). Import a player from the US and Bob's your uncle. I now have two players: a European PS3 and an American Panny BD30. With downloads, I would have to set up proxies and whatnot to make the Criterion server believe I'm in the US and A. Sorry, but no.

[Blaumann]

Same with download services like VUDU, they are locked to the U.S. Even if you are US customer and were to take your box outside the U.S., you wouldn't be able to get new stuff if you connect your box from another country.

I am sure there are workarounds for this kind of DRM, just as we are able to get around region coding for Blu's with the right player/hardware, even if it's simply multiple hardware. Still a p.i.t.a. and MORE restrictions for the consumer.

Do those who wave the downloads will rule the world flag have taken this into consideration? My guess: not.

[Grubert]

Originally Posted by Blaumann

Do those who wave the downloads will rule the world flag have taken this into consideration? My guess: not.

In fact, many of them weren't even heavy DVD importers to begin with. They just were using region coding as a talking point.

[dialog_gvf]

It's another of those aspects of downloads that is never mentioned: ubiquity.

Why should anyone in locale not-USA be excited about the prospect of not having access to content for many years as the powers-that-be get their act together and deploy to their region?

Given that it seems Canada/USA are going to be separate regions from a download perspective (they are a common domestic region for theater/physical media) and that Canada is a small market by itself, we'd probably find ourselves grouped with Australia at the end of the deployment plan.

And, then, I'll bet we'll end up paying 30%-50% more for the content, and have no recourse to US suppliers like we do now.

Gary

[scragham]

theoretically, i suppose it should be possible to use a proxy service to spoof the download sites, but yeah - for a casual user?

pfft.

good luck on that one. plus, the good proxy sites AFAIK require you to cough up money.

[Anthony P]

the issue is that content laws differ from country to country.

[Grubert]

Originally Posted by Anthony P

the issue is that content laws differ from country to country.

Exactly.

Good thing that we don't have 192 Blu-ray regions.

[dk3dknight]

Originally Posted by Grubert

Exactly.

Good thing that we don't have 192 Blu-ray regions.

Shh!! don't give them any ideas.