Region locking has been part of media for a long time, present in both film and game distribution. The practice basically makes it all but impossible to import or purchase goods from abroad and use it as the disc or code is not valid outside its region. In more recent times some companies have ditched the practice making it easier for consumers to purchase goods from other markets, allowing for better deals in some cases.
However, region locking is still in effect on some digital goods and services, including within the EU. However the European Commission has begun the process to make digital region locking an offence within the territory, effectively stopping publishers from keeping content away from consumers within the EU. If successful this could also see some price parity across the EU, which would be welcoming in the UK where prices are marginally higher in comparison to other European nations.
Andrus Ansip, the Vice President of the Digital Single Market Strategy group, released the following statement.
“Let us do away with all those fences and walls that block us online. People must be able to freely go across borders online just as they do offline. Innovative businesses must be helped to grow across the EU, not remain locked into their home market. This will be an uphill struggle all the way, but we need an ambitious start. Europe should benefit fully from the digital age: better services, more participation and new jobs”.
While this could be a good thing in theory the differing laws between member states may have an affect on the content released across the EU. For example games in Germany are more censored than other parts of Europe, so the question that has to be asked is whether those laws would take precedence over others to allow for the single market to exist, or if there would be options to choose between censored and non-censored content. That will be one of many questions the Commission will have to consider and any legislation could be months, if not years away.
Source: EU
bunimomike
Great news, I hope. It’ll be interesting to see what happens to the market whilst it settles.
Tuffcub
It will be very interesting for the UK purely because we don’t use the Euro. Depending on the pound/Euro conversion rate, it may be cheaper to go to the French PS store and buy a game from there.
beeje13
Can’t you already do that?
Who does region lock still? Nintendo? I ‘m sure MS removed the locks after the original backlash.
MOVE
The problem is, you can never be sure about the languages when buying from other countries.
Another thing: Scandinavia will probably benefit more from this (should price reductions be the outcome of this) than the UK.
pdannysan13
About time. One way or the other people are already doing this, reaching for a cohesive background to play/purchase. A lot of people I know have UK PSN accounts even though they don’t live there simply because there are bad connections and few players in their country. They are already paying in pounds.
MrYd
While it sounds like a nice idea, I suspect he hasn’t thought it through properly.
There’s the Germans banning anything fun. First time something that would be banned there gets sold to a German, it’s going to be a big mess. Or different versions for Germany and “the other, sensible countries” will be replaced by a Europe-wide, don’t offend the Germans version. So we’ll lose out there.
Then there’s the languages. Translate something into many languages, or leave it in one language and deal with the inevitable thousands of complaints along the lines of “It’s not in our language! I want a refund!”
And then there’s Netflix and the like (which is one of his big targets). Content gets licensed to countries individually, currently. If this muppet gets his way, that won’t be allowed. Film studios and TV companies are just going to turn round and say “Then none of you can have it. And by the way, we’ve got our own service, outside the EU, where you can pay the rate we think is appropriate for your country without having to worry about the EU rules”.
He also got the origins of copyright law amusingly wrong. (He thanks Queen Anne for giving people the right to make copies in 1710, when it was actually the first time anyone tried to _stop_ people making copies).
So, he’s an idiot, with a nice idea that obviously won’t work. And would probably end up costing people more in the end.
bunimomike
Not sure how the languages situation would be a problem. As long as each respective PS Store states the available languages, then they’ll be fine. It’ll be up to us to double check things when we purchase, surely.
MrYd
You’re forgetting that about 90% of the population are complete idiots ;)
I suspect what would really happen is things get delayed until subtitles and/or foreign audio is done.
Or something gets released in English, the rest of the EU countries (who frequently tend to be very good at English) buy it, the translated version appears later and fails to sell. And then next time, it’s obviously not worth translating.
There are obviously lots of good reasons for region locking. But it’s becoming less and less of a problem these days. So I suspect this is one of those cases where it’d all sort itself out in the end, but the EU can’t resist interfering, and it’ll probably have all sorts of unexpected consequences. And have loopholes that let anyone who wants to get away with whatever they want.
Look at what they did with mobile phone chargers. Everyone (except Apple) had pretty much moved to Micro USB. EU pops up and makes that legally required. But Apple are allowed to carry on as normal (with adaptors), and now USB Type C comes along. Which is going to be fun. (A lovely standard, just because you don’t have to plug your USB cable in 3 times before it fits. Might be other advantages too, but who cares? ;)
bunimomike
I’m not. Thankfully, they speak English too. ;-)
Seriously, though. If someone’s about to learn a lesson where a majority of their customers don’t wait for localisation and snag the English version from the likes of the UK, I’m fine with that. It’ll help them shape future localisation and whether it’s necessary or not.
All of my friends who speak a different first language than English are happy with English versions of games. Perhaps this’ll shake the system more than they initially thought but perhaps it’s time too.
Gaughranorama
“He thanks Queen Anne for giving people the right to make copies in 1710, when it was actually the first time anyone tried to _stop_ people making copies”
Not even close man :)
http://kilmacteige.com/the-warrior-monk-colmcille-st-colum-ireland-deported-to-iona-circa-600-ad/
plutoniumdragon
Expect France to have a say if the potential is to curtail the use of the French language, they have laws about that :)
Arokhantos
Why just EU why not the whole world, region locks are dumb, the internet knows no region locks then why should anything be region locked.