XBMC

Post by **abeisgreat** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 1:25 pm

I would really wanna install this on my xbox but according to http://lifehacker.com/software/geek-to- ... 299809.php the Xbox Media Center software is illegal. Is this true? and if so is there an alternative to XBMC?

Post by **Metalcrack** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 2:01 pm

Technically I guess it is illegal as you would have to modify a patented products firmware or hardware to get it to run. Being this site doesn't mind mods, I soft-modded mine, and Media Center is fantastic. There are many backup utilities to "burn backup copies of games you already own", and it allows you to play homebrew (ie XBMC).

Post by **CantStrafeRight** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 2:26 pm

Theres 2 reasons why its illegal

1 You have to mod the console to get it on it
2 it needs to be compiled with the xdk which is only to be used by professional developers for making games.

Its not really hurting anyone so dont let the reason its illegal stop you.

Post by **abeisgreat** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 3:26 pm

I know its not hurting anyone but I still like to abide by the laws.

Anyway thanks for the info

Post by **pixelbender** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 7:17 pm

Cant~Strafe~Right wrote:Theres 2 reasons why its illegal

1 You have to mod the console to get it on it
2 it needs to be compiled with the xbe which is only to be used by professional developers for making games.

Its not really hurting anyone so dont let the reason its illegal stop you.

I'm not sure that you're number 1 is exactly true per se. For example, a modchip that defeats copy protection is ITSELF breaking the DMCA, however it is my understanding that you are not breaking the DMCA by installing it. Also, if you take this a step further, by backing up games, etc (which require the use of a modchip) you are exercising your rights provided in the doctrine of fair use. In other words, its a legal grey area in which you may be breaking laws that contradict other laws saying your actions are legal.

#2 - The explicitly "illegal" part is the fact that XBMC (and any dashboard replacement if I'm not mistaken) uses an xbox SDK that is hacked and/or used without permission of Microsoft. However, you can look at it by the fact that copyright violations are not criminal acts, merely civil ones that would be taken to court by Microsoft against the makers of the software using the SDK w/out permission (and/or reverse engineered).

Post by **CantStrafeRight** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 9:11 pm

It really depends on where you are in the world

Here in the UK mod chips are illegal and we dont have the right to make a legal backup. i have to admit that i dont know american laws so you might be okay modding a console.

Post by **Jubal** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 10:29 pm

abeisgreat wrote:I know its not hurting anyone but I still like to abide by the laws.

Anyway thanks for the info

your legal option is to use the original xbox dashboard.

to access the full capabilities of your xbox as a home theater PC XMBC is definitely the way to go.

=Jubal=

Post by **ubelaffe** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 10:42 pm

Making a backup of anything you own is totally legal. Once you sell either the copy, or the original while keeping a copy, that is the point where copies become illegal. It's the same with ripping cd's into iTunes.

There's a definite gray area with sofmodding. If all you're doing is making a media center out of the box, then you're not really doing anything wrong. You've purchased the xbox, so therefore you can alter it any way you'd like, just so long as you're not illegally ripping games you don't own...

Modchips aren't illegal in themselves are they? I remember reading about them in gamepro back during psx days and the writer talking about them as region-chips. I think as long as you're only using it to play region-locked imports, you're fine. In all sensibility, using it to play legal backups of games that you own - saving originals for archiving - should be legal.

Hope that gives you a better sense of what's up with these issues. I plan on softmodding mine. If you're looking to abide the law, just don't copy stuff illegally/profit from copies.

Post by **CantStrafeRight** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 6:54 am

ubelaffe wrote:Making a backup of anything you own is totally legal. Once you sell either the copy, or the original while keeping a copy, that is the point where copies become illegal. It's the same with ripping cd's into iTunes.

Thats just America
Here in the UK its technicaly illegal to rip a cd into mp3s. Nothing has ever been done about it but its still the law.

Post by **abeisgreat** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 12:41 pm

I think the whole "legal backup" is a gray area everywhere in the world. I think in the US a legal backup is fine. But what if your friend has a copy of Halo 2. And you "borrow" the legal backup? Is that legal or illlegal?