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US Government goes after console mod chip makers
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The following comments relate to this news article:
article published on 1 August, 2007
This morning, the US Government announced it has executed 32 search warrants in 16 different states in an effort to crackdown on console mod chip makers, claiming the chips cause the video game industry billions of dollars in lost revenue each year.
The warrants were out for companies that produce mod chips, which effectively bypass any copyright protection, allowing gamers to play downloaded ... [ read the full article ]
Please read the original article before posting your comments.
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AfterDawn Addict
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3. August 2007 @ 08:58 |
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To all you smart ass's that think this is some game or isnt real...here is Joe Schmoe Nobody getting raider by the fbi, taken from xbox-scene:
Quote:
he following is a firsthand account, written in his own words of the last 24 or so hours in the life of FallInc.
FallsInc - When ICE hit me, they had a warrant for my grandma's house where I had all my packages sent. They had a picture of the house, and a description of it, meaning they were ready to come find me. When they were there, they didn't find much, since I hadn't had my computer and most modding stuff there for a while, but I continued to have the orders sent there for security of the packages. They went in the house and woke everyone up and watched them get dressed and started going though everything that was in my old room, and the stuff I had in the garage. They took anything that was related to gaming. They opened all the mail I had waiting for me there (which included someone's Xbox and $150 for a mod and 400gb), and took all the consoles and all console parts that I had stored there they even took my original xbox1 games, that were in retail cases. They took my 360, power brick and video cable, while its modded with xtreme 5.1b, it has never had 1 single burned game booted on it. They also felt it necessary to take all my old Xbox parts, mostly dead, my controllers for the 360 and Wii (?) and packed it in a box, and left.
They got my phone number from my grandma and they called me, but I was sleeping, just like everyone else in Ohio. They eventually figured out where I was, and came to find me at my girlfriends' house. They asked me about modding and what I did, and how I did it. They showed me the list of modchips that they collected, and asked me if I ever imported modchips from Canada. I told them I did, but I didn't know it was a Canadian site until after I made the order. They asked me how much money I made, and how many mods I've done, and how many chips I still had, and where they were and where my computers were.
I wasn't forced to turn over my stuff since they didn't have a warrant for where it all was, but they told me that if I volunteered it, it would look better when the case is reviewed. They also said that I would have a better chance of getting it back (at first, they promised that I would get it back in 10 days, but once we got to the location, that was changed to "better chance" and "looks better in the eyes of XX". I did the only thing I felt I could do, I let them take what they wanted. We went to where I had my workshop area. They took my laptop, and desktop, and the soldering iron (which was one of their main things to find for some reason). All the chips and relative parts were taken on the recommendation of the computer forensics guy who was to be doing the analysis on my things.
In their defense, the ICE people who came to my girlfriends house were nice people, and they tried to help me make the right decision. I knew they were just doing their job, but I have been out of work since early may, and modding is the only thing that was keeping me above water with the bills. Now I can't mod, and I can't even sell anything off to pay for bills either since it has all been confiscated due to a ludicrous interpretation of the DCMA. Now it's all said and done, and I just have to wait for them to decide what I did wrong, but while I'm waiting, I have NOTHING of any worth anymore, other than a computer monitor, and my car. Because of what happened I'm not allowed to see my girlfriend and our 4 month old daughter, and last night, I slept in my car and my girlfriend sent me a text message telling me it felt like someone was taking me away from her. They took my life away. I would like to formally thank Microsoft and Nintendo for cracking down on the little guy with a soldering iron in his garage, rather than going after the people that are responsible for the bootlegs being available.
HSD - Xbox-Scene and it's affiliate sites do not condone or endorse piracy, however we do strive to discuss, educate, and explore methods of modifying and operating game consoles in ways not originally intended or envisioned by the manufacturers. We whole heartedly believe in the right to backup your investment. This act in and of itself isn't legal in many jurisdictions. Running a "modchip" store, site or service in many jurisdictions isn't legal. XS advises that anyone, regardless of country you are in take the time to educate yourselves on what is legal, and not legal in your jurisdiction. FallsInc wasn't some large modchip site or service. He was an individual making a few coins on the side. While his story won't be the last we'll hear about the raids, we do encourage everyone reading, especially those in the US to take the time and the measures necessary to ensure that you won't be in the next batch of raids.
This isn't JUST a problem for the United States. Europe isn't exempt from the broad strokes of the bloated DCMA legislation. Europe in 2001 passed the EU copyright Directive which has many similarities to the DCMA. There are many good resources on the net about the DCMA and the EUCD. Wikipedia is a good start Digital Millennium Copyright Act.
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Newbie
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3. August 2007 @ 12:56 |
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Quote:
damn.....
modchips are going to be rare...
Plus high costs.
Maybe, but I doubt that I think that if it seriously hits the fan it will just stimulate people to make their own chip.
Please notice I said "chip" and not software.
I remember coming uppon a site that helped you make your own chip and then you'd just download the software on to it (flash the chip) and voila!
Plus the parts cost about 4 bucks or something like that. You can see where this could go if things take a spill for the worse.
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ChaosEnvy
Suspended due to non-functional email address
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3. August 2007 @ 13:36 |
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the gouverment is full of shit their a bunch of lazy bastards why should they be worying about this when theirs hundreds of other thing munch more importnat to work on
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mrmcman
Suspended permanently
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3. August 2007 @ 15:52 |
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Nice job George. way to crack down on petty homebrewers when many New York murders become cold cases. Really good prioritizing.
Nothing happened in Canada, that I am aware about. I'm pretty sure if they were doing something in Canada, I'd know. I've got so many files and stuff, but no modchips, surprisingly. Just bootleg, which I may delete now, don't want this to be me...back to just homebrew.
NOT!
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jimmy42
Member
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3. August 2007 @ 16:55 |
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this is a god damn shame... but it was bound to happen sooner or later...
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Zmiller
Junior Member
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3. August 2007 @ 17:26 |
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OK so assume that the company who had your console modded was raided and they found your name on a list. What can they do? Could they come and arrest you?
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mrmcman
Suspended permanently
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3. August 2007 @ 17:30 |
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Not arrest you, take away all of your things. I don't think having a modded console is illegal, but the process of having it modded is, so they can only confiscate your things that give you contact to the modification world.
You can get arrested if you have a bootlegged copy of a game though.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 3. August 2007 @ 17:31
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jaems12
Suspended due to non-functional email address
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3. August 2007 @ 18:06 |
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hey guys I just ordered a Wiikey earlier this week and I live in the US. I'm new to the modding scene I just need to play some imports and backups.
Do you guys think its possible for em to bust me though?
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rallyprox
Account closed as per user's own request
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3. August 2007 @ 19:43 |
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Anyone else think bzkilla is a representative for Sony?
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bzkilla (Junior Member) 3 August 2007 0:50 _
Everyone... if u have a ps3... the new blu ray disks dont scratch easy. i swear. all my games... noooo scratches at all. i have my nephew grabbing my games hella ugly with his finger nails and stuff. and not one little scratch... now about making back up games... what the hell. ur waisting time and money. just buy the game and play the hell out of it. thats why u bought it for. just like dvd movies. take good care of them... really. im happy they are doing this. because it pisses me off that i pay 60 bucks for a damn game and like a million people are burning them for free.... thats gay.
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bandoogie
Junior Member
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3. August 2007 @ 19:44 |
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Question, let's say they find my name on a list. So they can take my modded xbox. But now what if I have games I don't own backed up on the modded xbox's hard drive? Can they arrest me for that?
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Senior Member
1 product review
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3. August 2007 @ 19:46 |
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trust me, they arent going to go after you personally, they want to stop the chip makers not the people with chips. they are much too busy to worry about trying to arrest you. (no offense)
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kass250
Newbie
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3. August 2007 @ 20:41 |
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....now that the chip makers/ distributors/ installers were taken care of by the gov. is that the end of it for now, or do you think that they (the fed's) are checking out what those people did and going going after...lets say...people whom the installer preformed a service for
also...what are the consequences for all of those people that got caught?? is it just a simple confiscation or are they further punished?
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AfterDawn Addict
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3. August 2007 @ 20:43 |
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That isnt entirely correct. I have yet to see any announcement or press release of going after chip makers, ICE is only targeting modders, sites/companies importing chips, installing them, etc. If the fed's really wanted to end this, they would target release groups, chip makers as you suggested, and file sharing. I gurantee the dev's/console makers could do themselves a giant favor and reduce the price of their goods, no telling how much this would deter someone who was hellbent on illegaly copying games but im sure it would positively increase sales.....just even a little.
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kass250
Newbie
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3. August 2007 @ 22:12 |
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soo basically only the people that sell get their stuff onfiscated and then put in prison or pay a fine or something ??
and since u mentioned file sharing...what do they do to the downloaders...or is it only to uploaders?
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AfterDawn Addict
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3. August 2007 @ 22:33 |
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You need to do some basic research. File sharing is illegal regardless, if you download any copyrighted.....game/music/movie/app and get caught you are in trouble. No point singling out the gaming portion of the file sharing community, if you get caught you are in trouble...regardless of the media type. And no, doesnt matter if you are downloading or uploading....either way it is a no no. Best advice, DONT DO IT! Uploading seems it would be considered the worst though since that person made it available initially....dont take that to mean downloading is ok by any means though lol.
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kass250
Newbie
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3. August 2007 @ 22:36 |
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ooo ok...ive been trying to figure that simple thing out for a longgggg time now and i always get some twisted 2 sided answer which doesnt make sense or goes against something else i'd heard...thanks for a simple straightforward answer
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AfterDawn Addict
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4. August 2007 @ 02:42 |
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SUCKS
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plazma247
Member
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4. August 2007 @ 04:11 |
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Yes the naughty terrorist mod chip makers..
I find it funny microsoft supported this.... however as far as im aware to 360 mod is all software.
And i cant see microsoft helping to take down sony mod chippers and suppliers.
So how come it was reported as mod chip when there is no chip involded in a 360 mod ?
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Senior Member
13 product reviews
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4. August 2007 @ 17:10 |
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Originally posted by plazma247:
Yes the naughty terrorist mod chip makers..
I find it funny microsoft supported this.... however as far as im aware to 360 mod is all software.
And i cant see microsoft helping to take down sony mod chippers and suppliers.
So how come it was reported as mod chip when there is no chip involded in a 360 mod ?
What on earth are you talking about..? Ever heard of Xeno360?
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plazma247
Member
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4. August 2007 @ 17:13 |
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Quote:
Originally posted by plazma247:
Yes the naughty terrorist mod chip makers..
I find it funny microsoft supported this.... however as far as im aware to 360 mod is all software.
And i cant see microsoft helping to take down sony mod chippers and suppliers.
So how come it was reported as mod chip when there is no chip involded in a 360 mod ?
What on earth are you talking about..? Ever heard of Xeno360?
Actually no, but ... i stand corrected.
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zedro
Newbie
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4. August 2007 @ 19:27 |
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You have to look at the situation this way: Like it or not, modchip are used for illegally playing games you don?t own. They can use for playing backup or homebrew but ARE used for playing games you don?t own. If a modchip company was able to make a chip that would only play homebrew and original imports, and would have some fullproof way of making sure you own the original copy of a backup (like having to put in the original in one time to be scanned by the chip of verify ownership) that chip would not be as much of a threat to M$ or Sony. But it wouldn?t sell as well as one that allows anyone to do anything they want. The people that want to play games they don?t own, like it or not, are a big consumer base to modchip companies.
And plazma247, M$ and Sony have a common enemy with modchip makers. If they make one for Playstation, one day they?ll make one for X-Box. They work together as far as this goes because they both be targets in the long run. Nintendo too.
And it will only get worse. If people start making chips, they just target the individual. Look what the do with Sudafed. People who buy Sudafed use it to make meth, which is a big problem so how did they try to solve it? You have to sign your name & SSN to a sheet every time you buy the nasal decongestant. They could do the same, is it really that unbelievable? Radio Shack already asks for your information when you buy batteries, they could just send the info off to M$, Sony or the FBI when you buy blank chips.
And by the time Halo 5 comes out: ?What that? All I have to do is sign a piece of paper waiving all my constitutional privacy rights and have M$ shove a tracking chip up my ass to make sure I?m following all the rules or I can?t play. Let me bend over. Do you have a pen??
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 4. August 2007 @ 19:30
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plazma247
Member
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4. August 2007 @ 19:40 |
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Dude i had already conceeded defeat on that one, but i think your wrong mod chip providers normally have mass supplies coming in from countries that dont care what they are used for, which is why they are so hard to shut down.
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Senior Member
13 product reviews
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4. August 2007 @ 22:45 |
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Originally posted by plazma247:
which is why they are so hard to shut down.
I don't think it's possible to do so. :P
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AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
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4. August 2007 @ 23:45 |
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zedro
hopfuly by then they will allow some home brewing and soft moding but in a controled closed enviroment,look at steam and its statistical data gathering MS could implement something like it to watch over data and what not and then ban any console from online if enough complaints/odd data or whatever,I mean even if its 5 a month or 50 a year I would pay to be able to mod games a bit (mostly use cheat devices or trainers to rebalance games back to fun) sure it will never happen because fascist capitalism demands twice as much money for less the innovation.
As opposed to normal capitalism which just prevents the games from being copied and sold but lets the market deal with itself when it comes to 3rd party devices and stuff...like modchips.
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zedro
Newbie
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5. August 2007 @ 10:58 |
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Then it just goes to who decides what's ok and what's not. Open modding will work until someone wants to do something that M$ says no to. Opening the door to emulation and homebrew games could, maybe, in some way hurt the bottom line in the future. The way I see it, monitored & controlled homebrew/modding defeats the purpose.
And Steam is just the begging of the end of privacy. Steam is about forced monitoring. What if they want to force you to watch commercials in between levels sometime in the future? Or have Steam randomly scan your computer for programs, files or websites that MAY be used for piracy. Or maybe the full price of a game only gets you six months of play before have to fork over more money. Requiring registration (information that they can sell to any number of companies) and having an internet connection for playing a single play game is only for them to get their meat hooks in you slow and steady so the can really screw you later on. Same goes for M$ and Sony online system. Once the systems in place, they can change it to whatever they want and in the end they can force you to do pretty much anything they want. And if you don?t like it, you won?t be allowed to play anything on their systems.
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