# Region Codes - DVD vs BluRay

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/region-codes-dvd-vs-bluray/624276>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 6, 2012, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/region-codes-dvd-vs-bluray/624276 "2012-06-06T15:45:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![AndyLee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/898d66/32.png) [@AndyLee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndyLee)\
**Post date:** [June 6, 2012, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/region-codes-dvd-vs-bluray/624276/1 "2012-06-06T15:45:46Z")

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I know DVDs have region codes.

> **[DVD region code](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVD_region_code)**
>
> DVD region codes are a digital rights management technique introduced in 1997. It is designed to allow rights holders to control the international distribution of a DVD release, including its content, release date, and price, all according to the appropriate region.
> This is achieved by way of region-locked DVD players, which will play back only DVDs encoded to their region (plus those without any region code). The American DVD Copy Control Association also requires that DVD player manufacturers ...

And I know BluRay disks also have region codes

> **[Blu-ray | Region codes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-ray_Disc#Region_codes)**
>
> As with the implementation of region codes for DVDs, Blu-ray Disc players sold in a specific geographical region are designed to play only discs authorized by the content provider for that region. This is intended to permit content providers (motion picture studios, television production company etc.) to enact regional price discrimination and/or exclusive content licensing. According to the Blu-ray Disc Association, all Blu-ray Disc players and Blu-ray Disc-equipped computer systems are required...

I understand the logic of having them, but my question is, why aren’t they the same.

If the idea is to allow restrictive flow for such things a varying a relase and such, doesn’t it defeat the purpose if the regions don’t match up?

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**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\
**Post date:** [June 6, 2012, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/region-codes-dvd-vs-bluray/624276/2 "2012-06-06T19:02:38Z")

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Having more region codes means you need more types of players, more hassles with people in border regions who want to be able to play both, and more agreements. My guess is that they streamlined the Bluray codes to fit current economic realities. There’s an argument for using the same regions as the old system, but you don’t want to lock yourself into those regions forever if things change.

The wikipedia page suggests that 70% of major studio releases aren’t even using the region code. Perhaps they decided it was more trouble than it was worth.