What is Region Code Enhancement (RCE) and why would I care about it?
Region Code Enhancement (RCE) is just that, an enhancement to the region code idea. In our answer to the previous question, we discussed that there are region-free DVD players that have been modified after-market by third-party vendors to evade the region code restriction. To counter that, the DVD format now includes a stricter mechanism called Region Code Enhancement. The region code is now embedded in the digital bitstream so it becomes harder to foil by region-free DVD players. Reportedly, the first region 1 DVD title to use RCE is “The Patriot”. How does this affect you the consumer? Well, if you are hoping to by a region-free DVD player, just watch out for RCE. It could potentially foil your efforts. Why was region code ever invented? Often times, a U.S. movie is release to DVD in the U.S. (region 1) prior to its theatrical release abroad. It takes time for the studios to produce a foreign language version of the same film. To protect the revenues it hopes to generate from foreign
