Could it be possible that new european dc models are not protected ?

[Wayne]

It could be that the Dreamcasts that they bought only two months ago still have the Pre-OCT00 manufacture date... The only way to be sure is to look at the label on the bottom of the machine.

Remember, Dreamcasts haven't been assembled since about March time frame. Nothing purchased today will have a later date than that and most will have a much earlier date (some will have dates prior to October 2000).