Petition to ban Region Locking

[The Minecrafter]

I just discovered that someone created a petition to ban region locking of games, movies, and software.
I don't know if anything will come of this, as it needs to get 100,000 signatures by the 15th of February, but it is worth a shot.

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/pe...ftware-and-internet-traffic-handling/XGzyvcVJ

Feel free to spread this around, so region locking may have a chance to be banned.

 

[The Catboy]

It's a good idea, but I doubt any company will listen to it nor do I think it will be that big a success.

 

[DinohScene]

Cba with creating an account.
Otherwise I'd sign it.

 

[gamefan5]

Probability of it happening is slim to none.

 

[Arras]

How would this work if it would become just a US law? Would they prohibit region locked stuff from being imported?

 

[The Minecrafter]

How would this work if it would become just a US law? Would they prohibit region locked stuff from being imported?

I think that they word force companies in the US to remove the region check from the hardware/software.
If I understand correctly, if this passed, a company like Nintendo, for instance, would have to create and release a patch that makes the DSi/3DS/WiiU not check the particular region of the game or app.
At least, that's how I understand it.

 

[ReBirFh]

US would be the last place to ban region locking, just stop and hear the screams of "that immigrant/china is stealing legit 'muricans jobs" (jobs they don't want for payments they wouldn't accept), a similar argument would be given to say that millions of dollars are being lost because basement-dweller-guy-level99-warrior isn't buying "North-American-Built-Seal-of-Qualit-Eagle-Guns-Explosion" games because all their money is going to another country and not supporting the economy of their country.

 

[Valwin]

this wont go nowhere government have no power over this

 

[Thesolcity]

US would be the last place to ban region locking, just stop and hear the screams of "that immigrant/china is stealing legit 'muricans jobs" (jobs they don't want for payments they wouldn't accept), a similar argument would be given to say that millions of dollars are being lost because basement-dweller-guy-level99-warrior isn't buying "North-American-Built-Seal-of-Qualit-Eagle-Guns-Explosion" games because all their money is going to another country and not supporting the economy of their country.

What the fuck are you talking about? People import merchandise from other countries all the time. We even have stores DEDICATED to imports. Also, certain systems here don't have region lock, making your statement completely invalid.

Illegal Immigrant job-taking ≠ Fucking video game imports holy shit.

 

[Chaossaturn]

I don't know if there will be able to get 100k people to sign it, specially when you have to make an account for that website.

 

[BORTZ]

lol region locking gives companies more money.

I want a game from the Japan NTSC region. I now have to buy NTSC hardware as well as the game. Company makes lots more money off of me.

Petition to lock this thread

 

[ReBirFh]

What the fuck are you talking about? People import merchandise from other countries all the time. We even have stores DEDICATED to imports. Also, certain systems here don't have region lock, making your statement completely invalid.

Illegal Immigrant job-taking ≠ Fucking video game imports holy shit.

lol, read what I posted as: Publishers will give just some random excuse to keep things the way they want. My 20 years old TV is trinorm, hacked consoles can play PAL/NTSC/whatever so there is really no reason to lock other than keeping the money on your territory.

 

[AngryGeek416]

Why do companies region lock things exactly? is this some sort of business move? i dont see the advantages

 

[Thesolcity]

Why do companies region lock things exactly? is this some sort of business move? i dont see the advantages

IIRC its a business move. Its has to do with launch and price control.

 

[BORTZ]

Why do companies region lock things exactly? is this some sort of business move? i dont see the advantages

did you read my post?

 

[duffmmann]

This is an international issue. Even if the US were to ok this, it wouldn't mean Japan or elsewhere would. Thus, devices that are region locked could ultimately not ship to America. I don't think this petition could solve the issue.

 

[Chaossaturn]

Also if it did happen I would be buying all my consoles from the US as there would be the better version being region free and all.

 

[Sychophantom]

Actually, as "good" as an idea it sounds, in reality it's a terrible idea.

Why should the government get involved at all? You're the consumer, contact the company. Get your like-minded friends to do it. Show an interest in that region-locked game, and they'll release it if the money is right.


Aside from region locking, it could potentially give the power to ban ANY aspect of a game. Look at the way some other countries ban M-rated games. You really want the US doing that too? The same people who want to force the government to step in and ban region locking would be the people shitting themselves if the government decided that Call of Duty 3414243 is too violent for the US.

All it really is letting the government have more power than it already has.....and the government can't usually find it's own ass with two search warrants and a Republican in a gimp suit.

 

[duffmmann]

Actually, as "good" as an idea it sounds, in reality it's a terrible idea.
Aside from region locking, it could potentially give the power to ban ANY aspect of a game. Look at the way some other countries ban M-rated games. You really want the US doing that too? The same people who want to force the government to step in and ban region locking would be the people shitting themselves if the government decided that Call of Duty 3414243 is too violent for the US.

The banning/censoring of games is something that already happens in the US (Manhunt 2 comes immediately to mind for a game that was censored, or San Andreas after Hot Coffee was discovered). I don't see how if this became a US law or whatever, that would become a larger issue. Don't get me wrong though, I agree, I don't think this is a good idea in the big scheme of things, but I don't think it would have any impact on games in the US being banned or not.

 

[Sychophantom]

The banning/censoring of games is something that already happens in the US (Manhunt 2 comes immediately to mind for a game that was censored, or San Andreas after Hot Coffee was discovered). I don't see how if this became a US law or whatever, that would become a larger issue. Don't get me wrong though, I agree, I don't think this is a good idea in the big scheme of things, but I don't think it would have any impact on games in the US being banned or not.

San Andreas' "Hot Coffee" was actually disabled by Rockstar before the game even came out, and only accessible via Gameshark codes on consoles, and patches on the PC version.

Manhunt 2 was censored due to Sony and Nintendo's policies, NOT the government, and done so again before the game was released by Rockstar's parent company.

Neither example you used was at the behest of the US government.


Look at the news lately, the focus on "violent video games" hat happens every time some jackhole shoots up a public school. Video games get to be a scapegoat from the media, and we all should know just how much the government likes to use the media for our protection.