See those numbers indicated on your DVD package? They’re called region codes. These DVD region codes were created to protect movie rights by avoiding piracy. There are eight DVD regions corresponding to various DVD formats and technical requirements in certain parts of the world.

The regions are identified as follows:

Region 1: U.S., Canada, U.S. Territories
Region 2: Japan, Europe, South Africa, and Middle East, including Egypt
Region 3: Southeast Asia and East Asia
Region 4: Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands, Central America, Mexico, South America, and the Caribbean
Region 5: Eastern Europe, Indian subcontinent, Africa, North Korea, and Mongolia
Region 6: China, except Hong Kong which is coded under Region 3
Region 7: Reserved
Region 8: Special international venues such as airplanes, cruise ships, etc.

Most players play only one region-coded DVD but many players are now multi-region (accommodating two or more region codes) and even region-free players. There are some computer programs that allow DVD hacking to remove the code, hacking isn’t safe and can lead to the ruin of both the DVD and the player.