| Every DVD manufactured in a particular region | | | | exclusive market. This piracy results in huge |
| has its own region code, which is incorporated as | | | | financial losses for the production companies.On |
| one byte of information on the disc that the DVD | | | | DVDs also, movies are released at different times |
| player checks before playing. DVD players and | | | | around the world, typically first in America and |
| discs are coded by putting in their region number | | | | Canada, later in Australia and Japan, and then in |
| superimposed on a world globe. If a disc can play | | | | Europe. In some cases, DVD movies are available |
| in more than one region, it will have more than | | | | for purchase in America and Canada even before |
| one number on the globe. This implies that a disc | | | | they are released in European cinema |
| bought in one country would not play on a DVD | | | | theaters.Considering the high quality of movies on |
| player bought in another country. Therefore the | | | | DVD, and the staggered movie release system, |
| DVD standard includes region specific codes to | | | | six regions were established to prevent people |
| prevent playback of DVDs in certain geographical | | | | from watching region 1 movies before they were |
| regions.Preventing Illegal Playback of Pirated | | | | released in Regions 2-6. The six regions are as |
| DVDsThe greatest requirement for carrying out | | | | follows; Region 1 being U.S. and Canada, Region 2 |
| the concept of region-specific codes was to | | | | comprising Japan, Europe, South Africa, and the |
| prevent the illegal playback of pirated DVDs in | | | | Middle East. Region 3 has East and Southeast |
| certain countries. Movies made in the U.S. are | | | | Asia, while Region 4 includes Australia, New |
| released in a staggered manner all over the world. | | | | Zealand, Pacific Islands, Central America, Mexico, |
| The DVDs are also released a few months after | | | | and the Caribbean. Region 5 comprises of Eastern |
| the release of the movie in theaters. However, it | | | | Europe, Africa, North Korea, Mongolia, and the |
| is very easy to copy DVDs illegally and distribute | | | | Indian Subcontinent, while Region 6 has China. An |
| these movies in the other countries even before | | | | additional Region 7 for reserved category and |
| they are formally released in their cinemas. Also, | | | | Region 8 for special International venues like |
| movie studios sell distribution rights to different | | | | airplanes and cruise ships were also designated. |
| foreign distributors and would like to guarantee an | | | | |