I bought a movie incl. a digital copy, but can't transfer it to iTunes

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Level 1

71 points

I bought a movie incl. a digital copy, but can't transfer it to iTunes

Hello Everyone!

I have a very weird issue. Recently I bough the Jurassic Park Trilogy movie set which includes the three movies on Blu-ray and 3 DVDs with a digital copy of each of them. I just tried to use the digital copy with iTunes, but.... I can't.

I'm in Poland and I bought them from a UK Store (as all my movies) since it's the same region for Blu-rays and DVDs, note - when I say "I bought" them I mean the physical 6 discs. Original products no dubious copies or anything. Now, I put the DVD with the digital copy to my PC, iTunes comes up with a Universal logo with it asking me to type in the code on the insert, I do so and I get this message:

This code is only valid for customers of the United Kingdom or Ireland Store.

OK, so I tried to change the region on my Apple ID, but then I get this error message:

You are signed with an Apple ID that is not valid for use in the U.K. Store. You may only purchase music from the Polish Store with this Apple ID.

Please tell me what I'm missing here. Note - I do NOT wan to BUY anything from the iTunes Store. I OWN the discs, I HAVE the digital copy, I just want to transfer it to iTunes. Poland is in the Blu-ray region B just as the UK, so is the DVD Region which is 2 for both countries so there can't be any regional issues here.

Posted on Jan 3, 2013 8:39 AM

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Answer 1

varjak paw

Level 10

182,668 points

Jan 3, 2013 9:25 AM in response to VarHyid

Sorry, but what you ask it not possible. As it says, the offer is valid only in the UK. You cannot redeem it through the Polish iTunes Store, and unless you go to the UK where you can set up an account in the UK iTunes Store, you cannot use that store. This is one of the dangers of purchasing media in countries not your own.

You can try contacting customer service for Universal Studios and asking if there's any way they can issue you a new code for the Polish iTunes Store:

http://www.universalstudios.com/contact_form.php?email_id=101

presuming of course that the movies are available in the Polish iTunes Store. But if the movies are not available in your country, or Universal can't give you a new code valid in Poland, there's nothing you can do.

Regards.

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Answer 2

VarHyid Author

Level 1

71 points

Jan 3, 2013 1:00 PM in response to varjak paw

Thanks for your reply, but you might have misunderstood it a bit. I'm NOT trying to buy a movie. ****, I'm not even in the actual Apple Store, when this happens I'm in the library not the Store part of iTunes.

To clarify - I have purchased a physical copy of a movie which came with another physical copy which contains the digital copy. The digital copy is on the DVD, all I need is just to transfer this file to my iPod Touch, for example, I'm not trying to download it from the store or repurchase it and it's not any gift code that I've received, the digital copy is on the disc. This is the first time ever that I've purchased something on a disc and I'm not allowed to access it because the disc hasn't been purchased within my country.

So again - I'm not attempting any purchase or download any purchased digital copy - it's on a DVD I own physically so... why is even the region of my Store relevant, the code I enter is (as I assume) just supposed to check if it's a legal genuine copy (which it is, as I've said - there are 6 discs in the pack: 3 movies on 3 Blu-rays and 3 DVD containing these digital copies of them). If I own it, I think that's proof enough that I have the right to use it. I just don't get it. I fully agree with you and understand your point if there was any purchase going on here, but it's not, it's just - I put a disc into my computer and I can't access it 😉

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Answer 3

varjak paw

Level 10

182,668 points

Jan 3, 2013 1:34 PM in response to VarHyid

No, I did not misunderstand. I understand exactly what you're talking about. But again, the code must be redeemed to allow the transfer, even if the copy is present on the disk, and that code is valid only in the UK iTunes Store. You cannot redeem it in the Polish store.

I'm not allowed to access it because the disc hasn't been purchased within my country.

That is exactly the case. You again will need to contact Universal and see if they can issue you a code valid for the Polish iTunes Store.

Regards.

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Answer 4

VarHyid Author

Level 1

71 points

Jan 3, 2013 1:46 PM in response to varjak paw

Wow! Now that's... ridiculous, to say at least.

Anyway, thanks for the info, I'll try to contact Universal and also see if this is even legal as I don't see any indication that the content of the movie I bought can only be viewed within the UK. I know I can't redistribute it, copy, publish etc. but I've never heard of being allowed to watch the movie in the country it's been purchased (except of course for the regular Blu-ray and DVD region locks). The way i see it, I own the right to watch the digital copy.

Again... wow! We'll see what can be done, thanks.

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Answer 5

varjak paw

Level 10

182,668 points

Jan 3, 2013 1:54 PM in response to VarHyid

You probably won't get a good response, since here's what the Universal UK web site says:

Why can't I access my DVD/Blu-ray digital copy?

Universal Pictures UK sells DVD and Blu-ray discs that are authorised for use only in the UK. The digital copy features included with these products are valid in the UK excluding the Channel Islands, Republic of Ireland and Isle of Wight.

But you can contact them and ask.

Good luck.

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Answer 6

VarHyid Author

Level 1

71 points

Jan 3, 2013 2:28 PM in response to varjak paw

Oh, well... let's see what happens 🙂

BTW, all 3 movies are available for sale at the Polish iTunes Store so theoretically they could come up with some Polish codes, but again - I just can't grasp the stupidity of this. What's next? Suitcases which you can pack, close, but won't be able to open in the destination country due to region-lock? 😁

Luckily, it's not a big deal for me, watching a movie on an iPod doesn't come close to watching it on a bigger screen and a real cinema system, but still - would be a nice feature... if I was allowed to access the dics I've paid for.

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