PS3 likely to be region free & patent on disc->console locking

One feature that often annoyed PlayStation 1 & 2 fans is its incorporated disc region locking, which prevents consumers buying games from outside of their designated region, just like with DVDs.  However, this policy is likely to end with the upcoming PlayStation 3, especially since the player will be designed work with the upcoming global HDTV standard.  As Sony did away with regioning for the PlayStation Portable (PSP), the Sony Computer Entertainment Australia managing director indicated they will likely follow suit for for the PS3.

Sony has already run into problems enforcing its disc regioning in Australia after it lost a lengthy legal battle against a supplier of “mod chips”.   While the court ruled that counterfeit discs were illegal, the mod chips did not violate their copyright laws and also fairly allowed consumers to use discs from other regions, one thing the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission was unhappy to see Sony trying to block. 

While it is unclear if Sony may start locking games to consumer’s consoles or on upcoming equipment, apparently Sony has registered a patent with Japan’s patent office which covers locking discs to a given machine using security codes on the disc / machine.  When the disc is first loaded, the hardware would read the disc’s unique security code, record it in its database and then physically erase it from the disc such that the disc cannot on other hardware.  However, it is unlikely for Sony to use this technology on the PlayStation 3.

It will be
nice to see the PlayStation 3 do away with region coding, assuming this does
indeed happen.  As the PlayStation 3 will support the playback of Blu-ray
movies, it looks like that Blu-ray movies discs will away with regioning
also.  While it is quite common to hear about modifying DVD players to make
them region free, apparently this would not be as simple for Blu-ray if it
decides to incorporate regioning as these players will be href="http://www.cdfreaks.com/news/12616" target=_new>designed to prevent
playback if it detects any tampering with the hardware or firmware. 

As Sony has registered a patent covering the locking of discs to the first players these discs are loaded on, hopefully this will not be implemented with the PlayStation 3.  Preventing the pirating of games is one thing, but preventing one from carrying their games (or other disc content) about is likely going to upset a lot of consumers.  This would essentially prevent consumers from bringing their games to a friend’s house or even selling off old used discs (unless they sell the console with the games).

Feel free to discuss about the PlayStation 3 and other game consoles on our Console Forum.

Source: Spong – News