Say no to Region Locking.
(Full Article Coming Soon)

Quick Summary

- For a service designed to promote software 'freedoms', Impulse enforcing region lockouts is introucing a concept otherwise never existing in a PC environment (other than Microsofts Vista Anywhere Update - which is not available outside the US/Canada, and parts of Europe and annoys me no end because I want to upgrade to Vista Ultimate... but.. can't!), and Steam (the big publishers prevent sale of some games in particular areas and in others increase the price for the same product). Impulse is region locking desktop software now (for example Corel Wordperfect Suite which is only available in US/Canada)..

- Region Locking exists to enforce archaic business models, create market protectionism, and prevent freedom of choice and supply in order to boost profits. Unfortunately efforts by governments to prevent such market lock in is foiled by the large publishers/studios. For example in Australia, Grey Market imports were made legal a few years back - this was intended to reduce the local price of goods such as Music CD's. Instead the local distributors/retailers increased their profits by selling the cheaper 'foreign' (and i say that loosely as all of these items are imported foreign product) product at what were previously established local prices. This is effectively what is currently happening with Impulse/Steam etc. Doors to previously unaccessible content are being opened, however instead of allowing for universal access we are instead being limited and/or charged more because they believe they can.

- Games are most affected by region locking, due to a lot of titles not getting official PAL releases they become inaccessible to the European/Oceanic market (and if they are availabe they're usually 2 to 3 times the eqivalent USD price). For this reason Modchips are legal in Australia despite all the fear campaigns and propaganda stating otherwise. However this comes at the expense of any manufacturer warranty (and face it if you own a 360 you probably need that.. </cheap dig>). Modchips also introduce the possibility of quick and easy software piracy on the consoles which is a bad thing. Sony tried to kill Modchips in Australia because obviously the PS2 modchips were incredibly popular for the use of pirating games. However they failed to do so as they also allowed people to play imported DVD's and Games that they otherwise would not have been 'allowed' to by the local industry. The solution for them was to not region lock games for the PS3 (and I commend them for that), thus no need to modchip (if possible down the track) a PS3 to play import games and hence they could sue modchip makers to their hearts content to shut down the piracy side of things. However Bluray regions are still enforced on the PS3.

- DVD's and Bluray Movies are also heavily affected. Thankfully with the advent of Bluray the number of individual 'markets' has been reduced to regions A,B, and C from dvd's original 7. We're told this is to prevent people ordering overseas DVD's of movies that haven't been shown in cinemas locally - why is that a concern. We a living in a 'global market' now - the Big Publishers/Studios always use that term when it benefits them but when it doesn't it's as if they'd never even heard of the concept.

- Granted products have different distributors/owners in different regions, but that shouldn't prevent a distributor in one region from having a customer outside of his own designated area. That's what free capitalism is meant to be about isn't it? If the other distributor can't compete because he charges more - then he should either charge less, or cease to exist?

What can be done:

 - Contact your local members of parliament (or equivalent) and let your voice heard. If you have a competition and/or consumer watchdog in your country, contact them and again make your voice heard. But remember to be polite and not send a letter similar to a forum flame

- Contact Stardock and express your unease of the introduction of region locking desktop and productivity software on what has previously been a 'fairly' open access platform. If I order a CD based product from the US and install it on my system there's no issue.. the same should be free of my download based software. Also be sure to mention that Region Locking of games is an artificial measure only existing to plunder profit. I always say that if a company is happy receiving $30 USD for their product in the states, then someone in the UK who pays them $30 USD should make them just as happy, right!?

- On Steam there is a group called 'Rest of World', with the idea being that it exists to allow Steam customers join and express their dissatisfaction at the treatment of non-US customers. Why are Australians being charged $88.50 in USD for Call of Duty IV when the US price is around $39.95 AND we have a free trade agreement? That doesn't sound like a fair deal!

- Avoid products/services that discriminate either in distribution or cost based on your geographical region. That means giving up these services completely.. it's hard, I don't think I could do this myself at the moment either.