Criterion and Region Locking! - Blu-ray Forum

kashif · 01-20-2012, 02:12 AM

I am confused about Criterion's decision to lock all their BDs. I mean I dont understand it. They have rights to some of the best catalog titles out there. They produce finest BDs then other studios. They only do business in US and they dont release BDs in UK or overseas so if they make their BDs region free the rest of the world can enjoy them but due to region locking its just worth for American audience mostly. Region Free means more money and more sale so why they lock there bds?

What I know is that Region Locking is worth for a studio who operates in both regions but since Criterion is only operating in US they should not region lock their bds!

Your comments please?

madlost1 · 01-20-2012, 02:14 AM

Pretty simple actually they don't own the rights to the titles in other countries.

kashif · 01-20-2012, 02:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madlost1

Pretty simple actually they don't own the rights to the titles in other countries.

Are the bound by law to then lock the discs? I mean they are releasing them in US its just that they make it Region Free? Like Warner and some other studios!

TJS_Blu · 01-20-2012, 02:21 AM

From Criterion's FAQ:

Quote:

26. Are Criterion’s Blu-ray discs region-encoded?

Yes. Criterion is licensed to sell most of its editions only in North America.

madlost1 · 01-20-2012, 02:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kashif

Are the bound by law to then lock the discs? I mean they are releasing them in US its just that they make it Region Free? Like Warner and some other studios!

Warner Brothers is the same entity in the US and in other countries hence the region free discs. Criterion on the other hand only acquires the rights to release the films in the US.

P@t_Mtl · 01-20-2012, 02:32 AM

In short and to keep it very simple, they do it because they have to

movie · 01-20-2012, 02:34 AM

Region free players are a good investment!

Adrock · 01-20-2012, 02:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madlost1

Pretty simple actually they don't own the rights to the titles in other countries.

Exactly. Warner Brothers, as was mentioned, does.

Quote:

Originally Posted by movie

Region free players are a good investment!

They most certainly are.

rock, stone · 01-20-2012, 02:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

In short and to keep it very simple, they do it because they have to

Just to muddy the waters, didn't they have some region free dvds?

It isn't that they are required to lock every blu, they just have a lock every blu policy. Other similar companies (like MoC) only lock when they are required to by the licenser.

nmycon · 01-20-2012, 03:08 AM

It's up to the studio that owns the films.

Since Warner, Columbia, Paramount, Sony ect. all distribute their own films, they can do as they wish

Criterion has permission to release certain titles, but are under strict guidelines from the studio about details of each release.

HD Goofnut · 01-20-2012, 03:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kashif

I am confused about Criterion's decision to lock all their BDs. I mean I dont understand it. They have rights to some of the best catalog titles out there. They produce finest BDs then other studios. They only do business in US and they dont release BDs in UK or overseas so if they make their BDs region free the rest of the world can enjoy them but due to region locking its just worth for American audience mostly. Region Free means more money and more sale so why they lock there bds?

What I know is that Region Locking is worth for a studio who operates in both regions but since Criterion is only operating in US they should not region lock their bds!

Your comments please?

You have two options:

1) Move to Canada, the U.S., Mexico, Japan, Hong Kong, or South Korea

2) Buy a region free BD player

I KEEL YOU · 01-20-2012, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madlost1

Pretty simple actually they don't own the rights to the titles in other countries.

I am pretty sure that isn't the case with EVERY SINGLE MOVIE they release on Blu Ray.

Eureka from UK doesn't have the rights to most of the titles they release in other countries, but at least they have the courtesy not to region lock the ones where they do, like the new Punishment Park release.

I have a region free player BTW, but I do remember what's been like without one and my frustration with Criterion.

blu-ray_girl_fan · 01-20-2012, 05:49 AM

When Criterion licenses a movie from another company, the contracts usually include non-competition clauses. This is because the rights holder may wish to release its own version in other countries, or perhaps yet another third-party company wants to release the movie in other countries, too.

Criterion doesn't have to lock movies that are in the public domain, such as My Man Godfrey and Charade. If those titles are locked, my guess is that it's easier for the company to leave certain default settings intact when creating masters, on the off chance that someone forgets to switch region locking back "on" for titles that aren't in the public domain.

tenia · 01-20-2012, 05:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I KEEL YOU

I am pretty sure that isn't the case with EVERY SINGLE MOVIE they release on Blu Ray.

Eureka from UK doesn't have the rights to most of the titles they release in other countries, but at least they have the courtesy not to region lock the ones where they do, like the new Punishment Park release.

I have a region free player BTW, but I do remember what's been like without one and my frustration with Criterion.

Criterion really never have the rights of any single movie outside of the USA (which is always written on the cover of their releases), just like MoC with the UK.

The region locking is not depending on the countries you can release in, but on the contract you sign. MoC have the ability to negociate to be region free, but it is completely independant.

You will also find out that their BR are now mostly Region locked when their DVDs were mostly region free.

BohemianGraham · 01-20-2012, 12:57 PM

Criterion films, IMHO, are also a bit of a niche market in addition to the film rights they hold that cause them to region lock all of their releases. A lot of people aren't interested in what they release, except for one or two titles, and even then, they don't like paying the price Criterion charges. I think your best bet to enjoy Criterion films is to invest into a region free player, or check to see if your current one is moddable. If you have a computer with a BD disck drive, there's software out there that allows for region free playback, that might be cheaper than a whole new player.

md99 · 01-20-2012, 01:56 PM

Easiest way around this problem is to invest in a BD-R drive (I recently picked up an 8x Sony model for €80) buy the Criterion movie, rip & remove region protection and burn the resultant files to a blank BD-ROM disc. For the completist download some software to make disc covers

Problem solved.

HD Goofnut · 01-20-2012, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by md99

Easiest way around this problem is to invest in a BD-R drive (I recently picked up an 8x Sony model for €80) buy the Criterion movie, rip & remove region protection and burn the resultant files to a blank BD-ROM disc. For the completist download some software to make disc covers

Problem solved.

Yeah that works as well. I have a Sony BD burner myself and I have been very pleased with it.

Melodious Thunk · 01-20-2012, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by md99

Easiest way around this problem is to invest in a BD-R drive (I recently picked up an 8x Sony model for €80) buy the Criterion movie, rip & remove region protection and burn the resultant files to a blank BD-ROM disc. For the completist download some software to make disc covers

Problem solved.

A good idea if you only plan to copy a few discs. But if you end up copying loads of Criterion discs, you'd probably spend more money than if you'd just got a second BD player.

I imported a PS3 from Canada, I play all my Criterion discs on that, and the games are all region-free so that's not an issue.

kashif · 01-21-2012, 12:59 AM

Thanks a lot guys for your valuable comments. Now I get it. But I must say that studios intention to make money is ruining art! If they dosent allow Criterion to release their movies without protection outside then atleast they should do the effort and release the gems by there-selves!

jordevi · 01-21-2012, 01:34 AM

I still don't get the logic behind region coding: if the movies are supposed to be available for sale just in North America, why did they change the zones, so that region A includes both South America and parts of Asia? I am therefore not allowed to watch a film released by Criterion, living in SA?

Would that also mean that region free players, and people who order from stores in other continents are doing something actually unlawful?

01-20-2012, 02:12 AM	#1
kashif Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Mar 2010 Location:Dubai 4K collection:409 Blu-ray collection:845 DVD collection:3 Blu-ray reviews: 14 Trading Score:61	Criterion and Region Locking! I am confused about Criterion's decision to lock all their BDs. I mean I dont understand it. They have rights to some of the best catalog titles out there. They produce finest BDs then other studios. They only do business in US and they dont release BDs in UK or overseas so if they make their BDs region free the rest of the world can enjoy them but due to region locking its just worth for American audience mostly. Region Free means more money and more sale so why they lock there bds? What I know is that Region Locking is worth for a studio who operates in both regions but since Criterion is only operating in US they should not region lock their bds! Your comments please?

01-20-2012, 02:14 AM	#2
madlost1 Blu-ray Knight Top contributor Member since:Oct 2009 Location:Hazle Township, PA Home Theater Gallery:9 Blu-ray collection:1258 DVD collection:341 Trading Score:42	Pretty simple actually they don't own the rights to the titles in other countries.

01-20-2012, 02:32 AM	#6
P@t_Mtl Blu-ray Duke Member since:Sep 2008 Location:Montreal Home Theater Gallery:4 Blu-ray collection:452 DVD collection:513 Trading Score:3	In short and to keep it very simple, they do it because they have to

01-20-2012, 02:34 AM	#7
movie Expert Member Top contributor Member since:Jan 2010 Location:Milky Way Blu-ray collection:210 DVD collection:45 Blu-ray reviews:34 Trading Score:22	Region free players are a good investment!

01-20-2012, 03:08 AM	#10
nmycon Blu-ray Guru Top contributor Member since:Jan 2009 Location:Toronto, Ontario 4K collection:3 Blu-ray collection:446 DVD collection:87 Blu-ray reviews:4 Trading Score:1	It's up to the studio that owns the films. Since Warner, Columbia, Paramount, Sony ect. all distribute their own films, they can do as they wish Criterion has permission to release certain titles, but are under strict guidelines from the studio about details of each release.

01-20-2012, 05:49 AM	#13
blu-ray_girl_fan Banned Top contributor Member since:Jun 2009 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:87	When Criterion licenses a movie from another company, the contracts usually include non-competition clauses. This is because the rights holder may wish to release its own version in other countries, or perhaps yet another third-party company wants to release the movie in other countries, too. Criterion doesn't have to lock movies that are in the public domain, such as My Man Godfrey and Charade. If those titles are locked, my guess is that it's easier for the company to leave certain default settings intact when creating masters, on the off chance that someone forgets to switch region locking back "on" for titles that aren't in the public domain.

01-20-2012, 12:57 PM	#15
BohemianGraham Blu-ray Samurai Top contributor Member since:Mar 2011 Location:Nouvelle-Écosse, Canada Blu-ray collection:397 DVD collection:458 Blu-ray reviews: 9	Criterion films, IMHO, are also a bit of a niche market in addition to the film rights they hold that cause them to region lock all of their releases. A lot of people aren't interested in what they release, except for one or two titles, and even then, they don't like paying the price Criterion charges. I think your best bet to enjoy Criterion films is to invest into a region free player, or check to see if your current one is moddable. If you have a computer with a BD disck drive, there's software out there that allows for region free playback, that might be cheaper than a whole new player.

01-20-2012, 01:56 PM	#16
md99 Expert Member Top ranked HT gallery Member since:Sep 2008 Location:Oirland Home Theater Gallery:167 Blu-ray collection:406	Easiest way around this problem is to invest in a BD-R drive (I recently picked up an 8x Sony model for €80) buy the Criterion movie, rip & remove region protection and burn the resultant files to a blank BD-ROM disc. For the completist download some software to make disc covers Problem solved.

01-21-2012, 12:59 AM	#19
kashif Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Mar 2010 Location:Dubai 4K collection:409 Blu-ray collection:845 DVD collection:3 Blu-ray reviews: 14 Trading Score:61	Thanks a lot guys for your valuable comments. Now I get it. But I must say that studios intention to make money is ruining art! If they dosent allow Criterion to release their movies without protection outside then atleast they should do the effort and release the gems by there-selves!

01-21-2012, 01:34 AM	#20
jordevi Member Top contributor Member since:Sep 2011 Location:Uruguay Blu-ray collection:233 Blu-ray reviews:1	I still don't get the logic behind region coding: if the movies are supposed to be available for sale just in North America, why did they change the zones, so that region A includes both South America and parts of Asia? I am therefore not allowed to watch a film released by Criterion, living in SA? Would that also mean that region free players, and people who order from stores in other continents are doing something actually unlawful?

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