I imagine it would have been far more noticeable if NTSC material had been locked out of the European PS3s, since so much stuff has been deliberately released in NTSC on European labels. Classical music in particular is overwhelmingly dominated by NTSC releases, as it's much more convenient to achieve economies of scale, and also to prevent pitch-shifting.

Though it's not Blu capable Microsoft products (including Xbox) have always been capable of both.

Nick tweeted: "Everything that's been announced but which has not yet been released, is Region B, I'm afraid. Out of our hands."

Not surprising.

I'd be more surprised if any of their studio licenses had been region-free.

In fact, I note that although Warner Bros tends to favour going region-free, they've demanded that the BFI's The Devils is Region 2, presumably to discourage curious Americans from importing it. (Yup, that's going to work).

I bet Warners kept bumping into the Digibeta machine as it was dubbing off the BFI's master. All with their mobile phones out making calls and holding it right next to the machine.

Apparently the transfer looks pretty stunning, which makes it doubly annoying that it's not in HD.

Well, I laughed!

Are the dual format editions of early region-free titles Region B? I just got Soul Power, and the packaging says it's Region B.

Fantastic Planet is.

Soul Power (DF) is region free, I watched it on my player when it was set to region A.

I think all the old blu case region free titles are still region free.

Not quite sure why they have "Region B" on the back, Maybe Nick can shed some light on it.

The only light I can shed on it, is that I didn't design the SOUL POWER Dual Format sleeve – the one which has incorrect region coding information on it.

To change the region coding of a disc involves remastering it, at great cost, so I'd be very surprised if the discs were any different to how they were originally – especially as there's no reason why this film can't be region free.

I checked the other region free DF releases, Sunrise and City Girl also have the incorrect region info says "B" instead of "ABC".