It all started with PAL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PAL the short version is that old cameras were tuned to work with the electromagnetic frequency, your camera either worked in Europe or in the US. This effected the frame rate of the end video (4%) and meant that tvs, video players and consoles ran at a different frame rate which lead to 2 standards NTSC and SECAM.

As trade expanded publishers created trade routes and business partnerships that created a patterns of distribution. Later when we resolved those 2 standards with modern technology, we are still were using those methods to get the physical copies to the stores and those same stores are still handling digital distribution, using the same laws and regulations. It might seem simple to click download, but that’s built on a monolith of history and automation to deliver a good user experience.

To actually get rid of it, I’m not a lawyer but I imagine we have internal trade treaties to visit? I don’t think it’s legal to sell PAL versions outside of their region unless you are also doing business there. I know Japanese pokemon games were hard to buy as a kid. Disclaimer: I know tech stuff.

Just learned about her thanks! She is very passionate, clear and intelligent. Unfortunately this is a lesson most people learn about premium vacations and she made a 4 hour rant video about it. I’m not a star wars fan but I’m likely watching this whole thing.