Nintendo seize thousands of copying devices and Wii mod chips

[Funkstar]

• The ability to run copied material

you forgot running backups... which is allowed under UK and US law

Nope

[UltraMagnus]

yes, it is. allowed to backup programs, just not music or movies.

[hibby]

Sinizter - Unless they have a warrant, they have no righ to enter the property unless you allow them in. It's up to you to give them no reason for going off to get that warrant, if that's the way you want to play it.

[Agent]

• The ability to run un-official code and hardware

Being able to run un-official code and hardware is against the console makers terms and conditions. So while not illegal to do this, they can take you to court for it.

There is no such thing as terms and conditions with a console. You own the physical hardware, you didn't sign a contract saying what you can and can't do with it.
Running unofficial code is 100% legal provided the code isn't copyrighted. The issue comes with bypassing protection mechanisms to do this. I'm not 100% sure if its illegal simply to bypass these for your own code all together, or just to run copyrighted code though

yes, it is. allowed to backup programs, just not music or movies.

There is a section of law that says people are allowed to make backups of computer software.
edit - its Section 50A: Back up copies of the 1988 Copyright, Designs and Patents Act
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 Part I

50A.-(1) It is not an infringement of copyright for a lawful user of a copy of a computer program to make any back up copy of it which it is necessary for him to have for the purposes of his lawful use.

(2) For the purposes of this section and sections 50B, 50BA and 50C a person is a lawful user of a computer program if (whether under a licence to do any acts restricted by the copyright in the program or otherwise), he has a right to use the program.

(3) Where an act is permitted under this section, it is irrelevant whether or not there exists any term or condition in an agreement which purports to prohibit or restrict the act (such terms being, by virtue of section 296A, void).

So, the question is would the courts see a computer game as a program which is covered by this act?
I've no idea, nor do I guess 99.9% of the people here

As you would have to bypass the copy protection to run copyrighted code on the console, that's probably illegal anyway.

Interestingly, any games publishers that put copy protected code on disks are arguable infringing on our rights to make a backup copy.

[UltraMagnus]

Interestingly, any games publishers that put copy protected code on disks are arguable infringing on our rights to make a backup copy.

Anyone smell class action lawsuit?