Originally posted by Zone-MR@Jan 2 2004, 05:45 PM
Whilst region free patches will will allow you to play disks from any region, it does not remove the encryption/css making them impossible to copy without tools like DVDDecrypter/Smartripper.
I haven't heard of AnyDVD before, just checked out thier site. Seems like a very useful driver, as it decrypts DVDs on the fly, so any program, even "official" software like Nero Recode can read the DVD directly without needing to rip it to the HDD first.
EDIT: Oooh, and it removes PU-OPS on the fly 
So DVD discs can't force me to watch annoying parts
I know, but once the region protection is circumvented you can use any dvd ripper you like
I hated having to change region codes through windows or using 3rd party applications to get around the restrictions
PLUS quite a few of the DVD writers around now have media restrictions written into them, ie you can only burn to specific media at a specific speed- the region free patches often remove the restrictions and enable you to burn at the full speed of the media.