Region Free DVD Players: The Answer to DVD Zones?

I am currently in Italy combining work commitments and holidays with my family. As part of my (modest because of what is called here “the American Crisis”) holiday shopping, I have decided to opt for useful gifts for my children: so books and DVDs in Italian — fundamental items for little children growing in a bilingual environment (and for anyone who wants to learn a foreign language well). Books: no problem (apart, of course, from making sure to avoid too much weight for the plane). The problems start, however, with DVDs. And here is why.

The world of DVDs and DVD players is divided into six different zones or regions, i.e. DVDs from one zone only play on certain DVDs players, also sold in the same zone, and not in the other zones (so, DVDs bought in the U.S. do not work on common DVD players in Europe). The reason for these differences (that do not apply, on the other side, to music CDs) has traditionally been control. Motion picture studios (primarily in the U.S.) wanted to control the release of movies around the world since movies were released on DVD at different times (later in Europe or Japan, for example). In order to prevent the (uncontrolled) flow (i.e., parallel imports) of DVDs from one region to another (where a certain movie, for example, was still playing in theaters), these different regions with different technical standards were created. Thus, because of different technical standards on DVD disks, users could not use DVD products freely around the world.

Much has changed, however, since the advent of DVD regions in the DVD world.

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Appreciating Our Professors: Vito M. Mangini

It seems to me yesterday when, as a second year student at the University of Bologna Law School (in Bologna, Italy), I decided I wanted to pursue a career in Commercial Law and Intellectual Property. One of the reasons was that I liked the topic probably more than many others in law school. Another (and as powerful) reason, however, was that my professor–Vito Mangini–inspired me, and made the topic more interesting than many others in law school. Since then, Vito Mangini became the most important mentor I have ever had in my academic career, the person who guided my professional life until I came to the United States (and to Marquette!).

During the following years, Professor Mangini was the supervisor of my undergraduate thesis and later of my doctoral dissertation. He then was the mastermind behind every scholarship and fellowship I have applied for (to study in the U.S., the U.K., etc.), always thinking about my career and how to help me in succeeding. When I moved from Bologna to the States he was proud and happy, and was the first one supporting and pushing me in accepting this great challenge and opportunity.

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