It's worth searching for this stuff on the net, ther's loads of information. Generally both the hardware and the software player can be region freed although sometimes you are limited to a max number of changes. I've used downloaded software to region free my set-top DVD player, my pc dvd and my pc software - I used DVD genie for one of them, it's mentioned here on the dvd BB
http://forum.inmatrix.com/ikonboard/...fff;act=SF;f=8 and to unlock my camcorder to accept DV-in.
Have a look at this page - it might be of use and refers you to a file download.
http://forum.digital-digest.com/arch...c/10414-1.html