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.