in order to make the region free or to play other formats (like VCD) or to disable MACROVISION to enable recording on VHS. I hope we can at least discuss altering regions as that’s what I’m most interested in. And that one, as well as format alterations, both seem to be legal but I would like your go ahead.
This is the thread in which I initially raised the idea.
Osiris, there are much better websites on the net that already discuss how to do this,
& if you search the net you can find them.
Don’t be alarmed, but I sort of agree with handy.
First off, The Straight Dope likes to err on the side of caution.
I don’t exactly know whether de-zoning a DVD player is illegal (it probably isn’t, or supercharging your razor is illegal too). Recording on VHS could be OK for personal use, using the tape/MP3 analogy.
Let me kick this up to the Admins, and see what they say, OK?
No. Anything that is used to defeat anticopying or other mechanisms is a violation of copyright and we do not condone that kind of thing on this site, ever.
your humble TubaDiva
Administrator
I know there are other sites dedicated to this and I have indeed visited them. What I specifically wanted to know can I feel free to talk about it here should it come up in a thread discussing a DVD and its extras or in recommending DVD players or in other various threads.
But as we see the question hsa been answered definitavely. Thank you for kicking it upstairs Coldie and for answering it Tuba. I shall remain mum on the subject.
Osiris, well, you can email someone if they are asking for something questionable. Most people have the email
address in their profile.
An addition, after some more internal talk on this.
The zoning system for DVD’s does not appear to have any copyright reasons. It’s for distribution purposes only. In fact, many manufacturers will even let their authorised dealers de-zone a player (at a cost to the consumer, of course) without loss of warranty - at least, in Europe. The artist doesn’t benefit from zoning, but the movie companies do. Incidently, these movie companies are often owned by manufacturers as Philips and Sony. Surprise! 
So, discussing the de-zoning of players would be OK, whereas the topic of disabling Macrovision (which could facilitate illegal copies) is not.
Deal?
Excellent.
Consider it done.