DVD movies are usually coded with what is called a country or regional code or a zone lock. The three names, however, mean the same thing. DVD movies are given a regional code and the code on the DVD movie must match that of the DVD player to be viewed. The region code on a DVD is a single byte of information that the player verifies.  Each DVD player is given a code for the region in which it is intended to be sold. The code on the player is stored on its internal memory register. For most DVD players, the code is set to the region code when the player is manufactured.

Who Needs Them?

DVD Region codes are used because motion pictures are often released on DVD at different times in different countries, and versions of the movie may be slightly different among countries. Sometimes a movie may have finished playing in theaters in the U.S. but not even started showing in other countries. This means the U.S. version of the DVD may be released while the picture is still shown in theaters in other countries and the industry would not want sales of the DVD to start before the movie hits the theater. Additionally this DVD coding system standard allows the motion picture industry to have more  control of the  trade and geographical location of the DVD movie. Often different studios will be granted the right to distribute a movie in a specific country, and the codes will limit the ability for others to impose on those licensing and distribution agreements.

DVD region codes are numbered 1 through to 8; with the first six being specific geographical regions and seven and eight being reserved for special play arenas. Much like we see content ratings on the front of a DVD movie, the back will usually show the country or regional code. A Paramount film DVD, bought in the United States or Canada,  for example, will show a wire globe image on the back of the DVD case with a bold number 1 imposed on it (see figure below). The text beside the image states: "This is a region 1 disc designed to be compatible with Region 1 DVD Players".

DVD Region (Country) Codes:

• Region 1 (R1): USA, Canada
• Region 2 (R2): Japan, Europe, South Africa, Middle East, Greenland
• Region 3 (R3): S.Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Parts of South East Asia
• Region 4 (R4): Australia, New Zealand, Latin America (including Mexico)
• Region 5 (R5): Eastern Europe, Russia, India, Africa
• Region 6 (R6): China
• Region 7 (R7): Reserved for unspecified special use
• Region 8 (R8): Reserved for cruise ships, airlines and so on

All-region Discs (also called Region 0) are un-coded and can be played Worldwide.

Regional Coding Enhancement
Due to the popularity of modded players and all-region DVD players, some production studios (including MGM, Warner Bros, Columbia Tri-Star, and others) have added a second layer of coding, called Regional Coding Enhancement (RCE). RCE prevents Region 1 DVDs from being played on all-region DVD players.

Regional coding is not used on recordable DVD media or DVD-ROMs.
 

Images of Different DVD Regional / Country Codes:

Logo from Sony PSP (UMD Disc) "The Con"

Logo from Paramount DVD "Braveheart"

Vangie 'Aurora' Beal - Writer, www.Webopedia.com
Last updated: March 24, 2006
 

Related Webopedia Categories: Home Entertainment

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Frequently Asked Questions about RCE
The DVD Region Coding system is part of the DVD specification. It was added towards the end of the development of DVD at the request of the major Hollywood studios. In essence, Region coding is designed to prevent a disc purchased in one Region of the world playing on a player purchased in another Region. This was done so as to allow the movie studios to have geographic control over the release of their movies on this new-fangled digital format.

DVD talk - Regional Coding Enhancement F.A.Q.
Basically, DVDs released in each region will typically only play on players sold in that region. IE a DVD released in the UK Region 2 would not play on a player sold in the us *Region 1*. You can tell what Region a DVD is coded for by looking at the back of the box for a Globe with a number on it. The number correlates to the region list above. If a DVD is listed as 'Region 0' it means that it isn't coded for any region and should play on ALL regions players.