The DVD limitation is a definite suppression of civil liberty - especially for laptops that travel
5 years back we purchased a first batch of corporate laptops with DVD's from a multinational that is no longer.. We challenged them on just this fact, insisting on damages or unlocking!
Interesting case emerged - as DVD locking was not ordained by the government in question in the country of purchase, the supplier (a US company) was in a logical fix.
As indicated above they insured that we had simple access to all the pointers to the "free world" fixes, but were unable to provide the equipment in a liberated form - suitable compensation was able to be obtained for our cost of "fixing" the problem.
Private people have of course a bigger problem. The workaround in my opinion depends on the store / suppliers easily and normally accessable documentation and a lack of any statement that only "certain" DVD's can be played. If the question, in front of witnesses, has also been asked - "can this then play any DVD?" and the answer was not a emphatic NO - it is up to the shop and supplier to "repair the dammage" at their effort and expense.
In many countries the salesman usually offers such services before delivery, if prompted - especially in Asia and Switzerland!
Next problem is - is the carrier and owner and user of the Laptop and DVD drive breaking the law when the equipment is switched on in US territory ? Our legal advisor suggests .... wait for it ....yes! and is not looking forward to the first case that is brought.
Nuf said... any more info needs e-Mail and encryption.
Enjoy the films ....
