| Every DVD manufactured in a particular region | | | | to guarantee an exclusive market. This piracy |
| has its own region code, which is | | | | results in huge financial losses for the |
| incorporated as one byte of information on | | | | production companies.On DVDs also, movies are |
| the disc that the DVD player checks before | | | | released at different times around the world, |
| playing. DVD players and discs are coded by | | | | typically first in America and Canada, later |
| putting in their region number superimposed | | | | in Australia and Japan, and then in Europe. |
| on a world globe. If a disc can play in more | | | | In some cases, DVD movies are available for |
| than one region, it will have more than one | | | | purchase in America and Canada even before |
| 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 |
| player bought in another country. Therefore | | | | movies on DVD, and the staggered movie |
| the DVD standard includes region specific | | | | release system, six regions were established |
| codes to prevent playback of DVDs in certain | | | | to prevent people from watching region 1 |
| geographical regions.Preventing Illegal | | | | movies before they were released in Regions |
| Playback of Pirated DVDsThe greatest | | | | 2-6. The six regions are as follows; Region 1 |
| requirement for carrying out the concept of | | | | being U.S. and Canada, Region 2 comprising |
| region-specific codes was to prevent the | | | | Japan, Europe, South Africa, and the Middle |
| illegal playback of pirated DVDs in certain | | | | East. Region 3 has East and Southeast Asia, |
| countries. Movies made in the U.S. are | | | | while Region 4 includes Australia, New |
| released in a staggered manner all over the | | | | Zealand, Pacific Islands, Central America, |
| world. The DVDs are also released a few | | | | Mexico, and the Caribbean. Region 5 comprises |
| months after the release of the movie in | | | | of Eastern Europe, Africa, North Korea, |
| theaters. However, it is very easy to copy | | | | Mongolia, and the Indian Subcontinent, while |
| DVDs illegally and distribute these movies in | | | | Region 6 has China. An additional Region 7 |
| the other countries even before they are | | | | for reserved category and Region 8 for |
| formally released in their cinemas. Also, | | | | special International venues like airplanes |
| movie studios sell distribution rights to | | | | and cruise ships were also designated. |
| different foreign distributors and would like | | | | |