Game Over: ICE, Industry Team Up in Gaming Piracy Crackdown
Submitted by: BodyShoT @ 09:07 PM | Thursday, August 2, 2007 | (url: http://www.ice.go...)
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from 22 offices assisted by representatives of the electronic industry today executed 32 federal search warrants in 16 states as part of an investigation into the alleged sale and distribution of illegal modification chips and disc copyright circumvention devices. This investigation represents the largest national enforcement action of its kind targeting this type of illegal activity.
The modification chips and circumvention devices allow users to play illegally obtained, pirated and/or counterfeit software on video game consoles including Sony's Playstation 2, Microsoft's XBOX and XBOX 360, and Nintendo's Wii.
Category: Console Gaming | 7 Comments
Tags: playstation sony wii xbox xbox360
- Comments (7)
They say it's illegal for the mod chip creators to facilitate the playing of pirated games. Oh well.
There were some interesting comments made about the sting operation on a blog called Dvorak Uncensored. GamePolitics has a rundown: http://gamepolitics.com/2007/08/04/fear-loathing-over-feds-mod-chip-sting/
There were some interesting comments made about the sting operation on a blog called Dvorak Uncensored. GamePolitics has a rundown: http://gamepolitics.com/2007/08/04/fear-loathing-over-feds-mod-chip-sting/
not sure what to think, really. There's regional lockouts...that serve -really- no purpose. Why not gain sales across seas on an import if you won't localize it?
I'm sure gamers that use chips exclusivly for imports would be happy to buy the games if their consoles would freaking play them.
Some people mod their consoles to play homegrown games. You should ALWAYS encourage development on all levels somehow.
And then, some people copy and hack games. This people DO incur loss to the industry...but Billions? I'd have to ask for the balance sheets and audits.
This is a complex problem, that's for sure...
I'm sure gamers that use chips exclusivly for imports would be happy to buy the games if their consoles would freaking play them.
Some people mod their consoles to play homegrown games. You should ALWAYS encourage development on all levels somehow.
And then, some people copy and hack games. This people DO incur loss to the industry...but Billions? I'd have to ask for the balance sheets and audits.
This is a complex problem, that's for sure...
<< Previous
1
Next >>