The DMCA strikes again

[dsheinem]

Looks like he was doing this kind of thing for hire:

"The Cal State Fullerton student is accused of hiring himself out to circumvent copyrighted encryption technology on Wii, Playstation and Xbox games....

the authorities said they seized a dozen consoles. He allegedly charged about $100 to jailbreak a console."

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2009/0 ... ng-arrest/

I'll start worrying when they arrest individuals for doing this to their own systems, but this guy is just as bad as someone who sells pirated DVDs or hacked satellite TV cards out of the trunk of their car.

[vejita]

“Playing with games in this way is not a game -- it is criminal,”

Aw, how cute....

Anyway, I can only see 2 ways how there is a health and safety risk: 1- If the mods were made dangerous to the consumer buying it, like he fastened a bunch of caltrops onto the surface. Realistically there could be some bad wiring and may deal damage to a person or to other appliances. 2- If this guy was part of a massive console ring where they also dealt out harmful drugs or weapons. Talk to anyone who is in undercover narcotics and they can tell you drug crimes are not victimless and they will not get better if everything is legal....but who the hell is getting shot at over video games?!

He's not going to get 10 years just like frickin' pedophiles and date-rapers and assaulters and drunk drivers don't get 10 years a lot of the time. Plus the items he's modded won't even be worth what it costs to keep him in jail versus whatever money the companies lost over the piracy.

[Luke]

And 10 years it the maximum penalty he could get. He hasn't even been to court yet.

I was just about to make the same point. You guys are jumping the gun.
Too bad the kid doesn't play football, you can kill innocent people and only spend three weeks in jail.

[Hatta]

I'll start worrying when they arrest individuals for doing this to their own systems, but this guy is just as bad as someone who sells pirated DVDs or hacked satellite TV cards out of the trunk of their car.

First, if you're ok with individuals doing it, why do you have a problem with individuals paying to have it done?

Second, do you really think those people belong in jail? Really? Does it make you feel safer that this dangerous criminal is off the streets? I forget who said this originally, but "Jail should be for people we are afraid of, not people we are mad at."

[Luke]

I'll start worrying when they arrest individuals for doing this to their own systems, but this guy is just as bad as someone who sells pirated DVDs or hacked satellite TV cards out of the trunk of their car.

I forget who said this originally, but "Jail should be for people we are afraid of, not people we are mad at."

I'm not afraid of child molesters, but I am mad at them, so I'm not a fan of that quote.

[vejita]

that quote is far too subjective... and child molesters can frighten you if you think that you are afraid for the children they would harm. See? Too subjective.

He was running a console chop-shop, then? He stole from the MAN

[Luke]

... and child molesters can frighten you if you think that you are afraid for the children they would harm. See?

You're making my brain hurt a little.

[dsheinem]

I'll start worrying when they arrest individuals for doing this to their own systems, but this guy is just as bad as someone who sells pirated DVDs or hacked satellite TV cards out of the trunk of their car.

First, if you're ok with individuals doing it, why do you have a problem with individuals paying to have it done?

Second, do you really think those people belong in jail? Really? Does it make you feel safer that this dangerous criminal is off the streets? I forget who said this originally, but "Jail should be for people we are afraid of, not people we are mad at."

1) I think you should be able to mod your own console for your own uses. So while I don't condone something like an individual downloading/pirating Wii games, I don't think it should be actively prosecuted. If you aren't trying to profit from it, then it's just a personal moral question as far as I care. Additionally, you should certainly be able to hack it so you can play homebrew, emulators (of games not available for sale), etc. If you own it, do whatever you want to it. No law should dictate otherwise. The people who brought the consoles to the guy aren't being arrested. That said, if he were modding old (or new) consoles for free, then he probably wouldn't have been arrested.

2) No, I never said this guy (or pirates in general) should be in jail - just arrested and punished. I think fines and community service, etc. are the way to go for something like this. If he was part of a whole piracy ring/company though, one that was making substantial profits, then he should be prosecuted in the same we we would prosecute any other individuals/companies engaged in illegal business practices (e.g. the mechanic who stays in business by selling inspection stickers for your car without inspecting it).

[Hatta]

Talk to anyone who is in undercover narcotics and they can tell you drug crimes are not victimless and they will not get better if everything is legal

Well of course they're going to say that, it's their job. Fortunately, we have facts that tell us otherwise. Notice the caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco industries. See how they are not engaged in a war among themselves? Now observe the marijuana, cocaine, and heroin industries. See how the first two are fueling a war in Mexico, and the last one is fueling a war in Afghanistan? Now, put two and two together for me.

Don't get your talking point on drug politics from a narcotics officer. That's the most biased source you could possibly get. Sorry about the thread jack folks.

[disorderlyvision]

I haven't logged into the forums for awhile, but I found this article on Fark and thought I should post it here

A Southern California college student has been arrested on federal charges that he illegally modified video game consoles to enable the machines to play pirated video games.

The U.S. Attorney's Office says 27-year-old Matthew Crippen was released Monday night after posting $5,000 bond.

The California State University, Fullerton student who lives in Anaheim is accused of modifying Xbox, PlayStation and Wii consoles in violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents got a tip from the Entertainment Software Association and searched Crippen's home in May.

He was indicted on two counts by a federal grand jury. Crippen faces 10 years in prison if convicted and is scheduled for arraignment on Aug. 10.

Attempts to reach Crippen for comment were unsuccessful.

http://cbs13.com/local/video.game.modif ... 13623.html