Testing whether VLC works on DVDs from various regions

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around testing the capability of VLC media player to play DVDs from various regions, particularly focusing on the implications of region encoding and the hardware requirements for playback. Participants explore the need for physical DVDs versus downloadable video files for testing, as well as the challenges posed by region-locked DVD drives.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires whether downloadable video files can be used to test VLC's ability to play region-locked DVDs or if physical DVDs are necessary.
  • Another participant explains that DVD region encoding is a DRM mechanism tied to the hardware of the drive, suggesting that overcoming this lock may violate licensing agreements.
  • A participant seeks advice on purchasing internal DVD drives that allow raw access to data, questioning whether this information is typically available in product descriptions.
  • Concerns are raised regarding newer RPC2 drives, which may restrict raw access until a region check is performed, complicating the use of VLC with libdvdcss for decryption.
  • Several posts express skepticism about the legality and ethics of circumventing copyright protection related to DVD region codes.
  • One participant expresses a desire to purchase DVD sets from various regions and play them on a computer without needing a region-specific DVD player, noting the availability of region-free players.
  • Discussion includes references to the legal status of DVD region codes and mentions of potential risks associated with searching for hacks to bypass these restrictions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the legality and practicality of circumventing DVD region codes, with some focusing on technical aspects of hardware compatibility and others emphasizing ethical considerations. No consensus is reached on the best approach to testing VLC's capabilities with region-locked DVDs.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights limitations related to the understanding of hardware capabilities, the legal implications of DRM, and the potential risks of seeking out hacks for DVD playback. Specific assumptions about drive functionality and software compatibility remain unresolved.

Stephen Tashi
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TL;DR
Are there video files that I can download to test whether my configuration of VLC (on Linux, Fedora) will be able to play DVDs from various regions?
Are there video files that I can download to test whether my configuration of VLC (on Linux, Fedora) will be able to play DVDs from various regions? Or must I have physical DVDs to test this?
 
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The region encoding on DVD's is a DRM lock on the drive hardware. The content is identical. If you can get around the lock (which violates the license you "signed" when you unwrapped the DVD) then you can view the content. This assumes that you can view any DVD content now.

Patient: "Will I be able to play the piano after this?"

Doctor: "I don't see why not."

Patient: "Wow! That's amazing. I couldn't play before!"

BoB
 
What's a good way to shop online for internal DVD drives that allow raw access to data? Is this fact revealed in the descriptions of internal DVD drives given on Amazon or NewEgg pages? Do the manufacturer's webpages explain it?

From https://www.videolan.org/support/faq.html#DVDS

Does VLC support DVDs from all regions?

This mostly depends on your DVD drive.
Testing it is usually the quickest way to find out. The problem is that a lot of newer drives are RPC2 drives these days. Some of these drives don't allow raw access to the drive until the drive firmware has done a regioncheck. VLC uses libdvdcss and it needs raw access to the DVD drive to crack the encryption key. So with those drives it is impossible to circumvent the region protection. (This goes for all software. You will need to flash your drives firmware, but sometimes there is no alternate firmware available for your drive). On other RPC2 drives that do allow raw access, it might take VLC a long time to crack the key. So just pop the disc in your drive and try it out, while you get a coffee. RPC1 drives should 'always' work regardless of the regioncode.
 
This post seems to be about how to get around copyright protection.
 
Vanadium 50 said:
This post seems to be about how to get around copyright protection.

My interest is in buying DVD sets sold for various regions and being able to play them (on computers) without having to buy a DVD player customized to that region. Region-free DVD players are already sold, but I don't want to buy another stand-alone DVD player.
 
Vanadium 50 said:
This post seems to be about how to get around copyright protection.
Stephen Tashi said:
Region-free DVD players are already sold, but I don't want to buy another stand-alone DVD player.
Hmm, I looked it up: The region scheme was designed for digital rights management, but it seem to not be supported by law. Amazon and many other sources openly sell region free DVD players.

This Wikipedia article discusses both the legal status of DVD region codes, and methods of circumventing region codes.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVD_region_code#Criticism_and_legal_concerns

I also see claims that there are "simple hacks for thousands" of models of DVDs. But searching for hacks can bring you to dangerous regions of the Internet.
 

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