Method for disk software publisher to control disk distribution

A system for allowing software publishers to control which video standard(s) can be recovered from an optical disk (23) containing video source material. The disk may be digitally encoded so that any of NTSC, PAL and other video signal standards can be generated upon proper decoding. But the disk also includes a code which can lock out one or more standards. Players (21) for such disks may be capable of generating video signals according to all popular standards, in which case the user selects a desired standard. However, the player will generate a video signal of the selected standard only if there is an appropriate authorization code on the disk. The system allows manufacture of "universal" players without necessarily impacting the contractual and marketing plans of motion picture companies, for example, which release films in different territories at different times. The control technique can be extended to lock out specific territories. Each player has a built-in territory code. The player will play a disk only if the disk contains an authorization code for the player's specific territory.