X-Box chipper convicted

[Nick]

From the front page of HEXUS.gaming :

In landmark case, a Cambridge graduate has been convicted of the illegal modification of video games consoles at Caerphilly Magistrates Court.

The offender had developed a new way of chipping Xboxes which was uncovered in October 2004 by one of ELSPA's Internet Investigators, who then informed Caerphilly County Borough Council Trading Standards and Gwent Constabulary.

The Cambridge man, who has not been named, sold the consoles complete with a 200GB hard drive filled with 80 games via his website for £380. The retail cost of this package, if genuine and unmodified, would be an estimated £3,000 for each one. ELSPA gathered the forensic evidence against him which led to the court result.

Mike Rawlinson, deputy director general of ELSPA commented:

"This case today sets a major precedent which marks a milestone in the fight against piracy and in protecting the games industry's intellectual property. It sends a clear message to anyone tempted to become involved in 'chipping' consoles that this is a criminal offence and will be dealt with accordingly. The modification of consoles is an activity that ELSPA's anti-piracy team is prioritising – it is encouraging to see the UK courts do the same"

The man has been sentenced to 140 hours community service, has had to pay £750 costs and has had all his computer equipment, 3 PCs, two printers, three Xbox consoles and 38 hard-drives seized by authorities.

This is the first conviction in the UK of its type since it became illegal to modify video game consoles in October 2003 when the UK enacted the EU Copyright Directive.

[TiG]

Its more than just chipping tho wasn't it. 80 games means he was copying copyrighted material too. Much easier to do him that way than necessarily doing him for the modding...

TiG

[Nick]

I thought that at first, but he prosecuted for chipping... at least, that what the story says.

Of course, they could be putting the chipping slant on things to push the point that it's illegal.

[iMc]

What he was doing was wrong. You shouldn't chip things and sell them on.

I do believe that it should be perfectly ok to modify your console in any way you wish as long as it isn't used for making money, or using copyrighted material. At the end of the day I can buy a car and modify that, even add road illegal kit, so the same should apply for any other possessions.

You pay for it so you can do what ever you like with it in my view as long as it doesn't break the law or hurt anyone.