> Well said Peter. I was trying to conjure up my own rebuttal
> of Adam's misguided tirade, but couldn't
> work up the energy.

Bob's point is interesting, in that he says that you purchase the right to
watch the DVD (in accordance with the restrictions), rather than the item
itself (i.e. a disc imprinted with film x).  This of course would mean my
watching R1 DVDs constitutes a breach (which would make my actions amoral
rather than immoral - regardless of specious accusations of
rationalisation).  The disclaimer on R2 films usually states that it may not
be shown to groups for money, on oil rigs, in prisons etc, but not where it
may be shown geographically.

I'm trying to remember if I've seen anything on R1 discs that explicitly
states that the disc may not be viewed in any country outside its assigned
region code (I'm fairly sure the FBI warning doesn't have it).  If anyone
can point me at a resource that clarifies this, I'd be interested.  The only
sites I can find that say anything on the subject say "Yes!  It's legal!".
However, since they tend to be the same sites extolling the virtues of
importing R1, I don't think they can be deemed unbiased somehow...

Adam's tirade hinges on one point, and only one point where we disagree -
that is that I do not believe I am breaching the copyright on the work by
watching it over here, whilst he does.  All of the rest follows from that
primary assumption.  Bob's suggestion that the marketplace should simply not
buy the offending product - why, if there is a better alternative available,
and there are no laws that say otherwise?  Or possibly more exactly, there
are no perceived laws that prevent it.

I do feel there is a parallel here with car manufacturers threatening
European (continental) dealers should they think about selling a car to a UK
resident for export.  Cars in the UK are much more expensive, and it has now
been deemed illegal by the EU to play this sort of game.  I could go on a
rant about fair trade, anti-competitive practices and similar, but it would
all probably come across as sour grapes.  Or bananas for the more topically
minded...

I'd love the erosion of rights bit explained, however?

Oh - and as for copy protection, I *think* I can see what the poster meant -
there have been a few times where I have purchased sw (usually games) with
copy protection that functions arbitrarily, depending on what CD drive is
used.  In these cases, there can be no argument about whether or not I have
succeeded in purchasing the right to use the sw, but I'm prevented from
doing so by measures that don't really bother the individuals it is
*supposed* to inconvenience.

Peter

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