The DVD Forum has approved the China-specific specification of the HD DVD standard, according to DigiTimes. While HD DVD has yet to start using region coding, apparently China is ready to start using a different HD DVD standard to physically separate it from the HD DVD standard used around the world, which means HD DVD titles in China will not play on players outside of China and vice versa. The Chinese variant is titled the China High Density Read-only Disc (C-HD DVD-ROM) and will be used in an aim to promoted HD DVD in the Chinese market.
While it is unclear what the HD DVD title or player pricing will be in China at this time, unfortunately, by the Chinese HD DVD standard being physically incompatible with that currently used elsewhere, it does mean that shoppers hoping to get a bargain in China will not get away with a simple region unlock code, unless they plan on bringing back a HD DVD player from China just to play those titles! Apparently, the main reason China is getting its own format is an aim to tackle the huge on-going piracy problem and as expected, to prevent its cheaper players and discs from being marketed outside of China.
