Clarification on mod chip situation
 

Can anyone clarify just what is going on with mod chip sales/fitting.

I've heard that its illegal to advertise that u sell and fit mod chips in the EU now.

Is this true?

i pm'd u plz check ya inbox :) thnx

Dunno what the big secret is about.

It is illegal to make pirate copies of games - i.e. to copy games for the purpose of selling those copies.

Judges then interprest associated actions (like making a modchip) against the scene bacground. Channeltech, for example, were banned from making Messiah 1 because the judge ruled that even though people might want to make backups, the risk of piracy was far greater. That ruling in the UK was in January 2002.

So that half answers your question.

The other half can't be answered until the law is tested again.

so why have we had to remove any links/ads regarding people that trade in and fit mod chips?

Not trying to be awkward. Just interested.

This has nothing to do with laws, just new forum rules. Read the New Forum Rule Sticky.

As Charlie said the law needs testing again.

Unfortunately for Sony, they endorse a product specifically designed to defeat the PS2's protection... DVD Region X!!!

It's not just about mod-chips & copied discs, if they make the process of defeating the machines protection illegal, then every Comet, Currys, toy'r'us etc etc store manager is commiting a criminal offence & risks arrest!

Virtually every parent in the country has paid over £40 for a game that has been damaged on the day of purchase. CD/DVD media are perishable goods, it is not so much a right to create back-ups but essential unless the stores will offer a reasonable warranty period for accidental damage!

Lets hope that the inevitable test case that Sony bring, will be brought against somebody that has the balls to defend themselves.

There is also another thing to consider.........

It has NOTHING to do with the size of your balls......

It has to do with the amount of MONEY you are willing to use to fight this with.....

$ony is a HUGE company, that can bury you in a legal battle that will cost you tens of thousands of dollars.......

And they KNOW........ The "little" people in this business can't afford to fight it.....

Thats the point Bg, Sony are trying to intimidate the lil fish out of the water, by threatening that its gonna cost you a fortune.

There are ways of getting the legal information & fighting in court without spending a fortune!

The Forum Principals decided on the rule to assure that this Forum is protected from overt association with potentially illegal matters.

Laws vary in different countries so it is best not to help people buy modchips - then nobody can shut this forum down.

Discuss their technical merits by all means; discuss install issues; but not encourage people to sell them.

The exception MIGHT be when an ANTI-PIRACY modchip comes out. The Forum Principals might well reconsider their position then.

Ta for explaining


Regards...............

Some care to explain to me, how this "ANTI-PIRACY" chip will stop game piracy?
How is it going to know the difference between a copy of a game you own, and a copy of a game you made from one you rented from BlockBuster?

I think what he is trying to get at is a modchip which prevents backups from working, although still allows booting of import titles etc.

Thus making the whole process of creating a backup irrelevent.

It simply amazes me how us gamers get classed as criminals etc due to us to backup our games. Yet everysingle person I know has either taped something off radio or a film off tv...........WHILST NOT OWNING THE COPYRIGHT FOR THEM! I was amazed when finding out that the above two were actually naughty too...although they are so heavily promoted with the addition of videoplus numbers etc.

Hmmm,

I'm going back to sleep. :rolleyes:

That it self is not illegal. Its legal to tape some thing off TV or the radio. Why? B/c they are broadcasting it for free for any one to receive, and record for them selves to play back later, unless otherwise stated before the broadcast. Any thing that is broadcast into the air are can snatched right out of the air by any one willing to do it. The only things that are really illegal to receive would be phone calls.

Gezz I really did learn some thing by working for a radio station. LOL :D :cool:

You all know what this is about. Many of you want to play pirate games.

The UK Judge who ruled against Channeltech said that the risk of piracy was greater than the mooted benefits of taking legal backups.

You know the Judge was right.

So the Forum's Principals wish to minimise the risk of being closed down because of facilitating the acquisition of chips that a Judge ruled could not be manufactured.

The Forum Principals decided on the rule to assure that this Forum is protected from overt association with potentially illegal matters.

I'm just an import junkie but I understand the point.


Well said :p