Federal Agents Go After Gaming Pirates: Several US Modchip Stores Raid Options

[brocher]

Didn't the guy who ran isonews get jailed for 6 months a few years back for selling mod chips (note, not pirated games)?

Of course, they jailed him on whatever they could, just wanted to shut the site down and teach a lesson to sceners, but it shows that you can be found guilty of selling mod chips. If I'm remembering correctly that is.

[xess]

does anyone think they are going to go after the consumers too or just the sellers?

I think only the suppliers will be targeted. They wont waste time and money chasing small fish. Will they?

[Rustmonkey]

@ Appleguru

So you said they took EVERYTHING??? Including your inventory that WASNT modchips? Thats bogus - how the hell does a faceplate infringe on copyrights?

[Ceazer]

I think only the suppliers will be targeted. They wont waste time and money chasing small fish. Will they?

could be DTV all over again i hope and pray its not but never underestimate the greed of big business ....

[Havok]

Didn't the guy who ran isonews get jailed for 6 months a few years back for selling mod chips (note, not pirated games)?

Of course, they jailed him on whatever they could, just wanted to shut the site down and teach a lesson to sceners, but it shows that you can be found guilty of selling mod chips. If I'm remembering correctly that is.

And the site was back up in 2 days...


I don't think he went to jail.. they just took over the site...

[appleguru]

@ Appleguru

So you said they took EVERYTHING??? Including your inventory that WASNT modchips? Thats bogus - how the hell does a faceplate infringe on copyrights?

I honestly don't know yet; I'm a few thousand miles away from home.. I saw the warrant though, and it was ridiculously broad... So I really wouldn't put it past them... but they probably left (most of) them...

[brocher]

And the site was back up in 2 days...
I don't think he went to jail.. they just took over the site...

Dug the thread out

http://www.theisonews.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=103699

for anyone who is interested. Know the site was back up quick, but reading that first post seems like it's not good when the government decide you gotta be made an example of.

[death trap]

Im so glad im in Europe, the government here could never pull their finger outa their arses long enoght to do anything about piracy.

I feel for you poor fuckers in the states, you got war on everything.

war on terror
war on drugs
war on piracy
war to make sure everyone

what's next war on fluffy bunnies?

Your country is fucked up, i would be afraid to go outside in case i got involve in one of your wars, or converted by some TV evangelists.

You people need to rise up and wipe out the rich right wing christian fuckwits that run your contry.

If the French can do it im sure you can.

[appleguru]

Did you update your site or did "they?"

I did.

This post has been edited by appleguru: Aug 2 2007, 02:51 PM

[Chancer]

we should list shops we think are hit (the feds wont). whats the harm if the damage is done?

Don't bother, because the ones that were not hit could become targets if we start compiling lists.

Note
This is not a discussion about piracy if you read the whole thing (we are not discussing the pros/cons of piracy). Nor is it open season to admit to piracy. Do not turn it that way and do not confess to piracy here. Seems I have to keep repeating this.

@Apple. Hope it all turns out ok for you mate.

This post has been edited by Chancer: Aug 2 2007, 03:19 PM

[omega2468]

are they only going after sellers or buyers too?

[appleguru]

are they only going after sellers or buyers too?

The applicable law here (The USC 17 § 1201 and § 1204) says that it's illegal to "manufacture, import, offer to the public, provide, or otherwise traffic in" devices and services whose primary function is to circumvent a copy protection measure on a digital work.

And so, if you consider a modchip as falling under that definition (and I do NOT; clearly others think otherwise...), then it's illegal to make, sell, or offer to anyone else. But buying them (at least domestically where no importing is involved) is not covered, and is therefore (technically anyways) legal.

[blame canada]

It's a shame pirater's but a bad name for those who use mod chip's for good use (XBMC, linux, etc.)

EDIT, example:

I know probably 20 people with modded xbox1's. They all use them for playing pirated games. I think its fair to say most people mod their xbox to play pirated games...

I'm just glad I backed out of modding xbox's and wii's in the last year (I had quite a bit of modding traffic, probably enough to raise a flag at feds. I never once however sold pirated games)

Btw @ apple,
Why were you downgraded to "members"?

This post has been edited by blame canada: Aug 2 2007, 03:40 PM

[Altima NEO]

Im so glad im in Europe, the government here could never pull their finger outa their arses long enoght to do anything about piracy.

I feel for you poor fuckers in the states, you got war on everything.

war on terror
war on drugs
war on piracy
war to make sure everyone

what's next war on fluffy bunnies?

Your country is fucked up, i would be afraid to go outside in case i got involve in one of your wars, or converted by some TV evangelists.

You people need to rise up and wipe out the rich right wing christian fuckwits that run your contry.

If the French can do it im sure you can.

Our next war, war on George Bush. Man someone get that guy a pacifier and shut him up.

It's a shame pirater's but a bad name for those who use mod chip's for good use (XBMC, linux, etc.)

EDIT, example:
Btw @ apple,
Why were you downgraded to "members"?

While XBMC is great, you gotta remember its not legal (in binary form).
Theres the fact that its compiled with stolen software (MS SDK)
and that you need a modded bios, which is also illegal

Linux and all that is all good. I think thats why XBMC has been moving towards linux right?

[Havok]

Don't bother, because the ones that were not hit could become targets if we start compiling lists.

I hardly think us having a list would be different than the one the goverment already has...

Any ones mentioned here would be the very public ones... public is visible thats the bottom line.

I am not advocating creating a list... just stating my opinion... besides for the fact is any list would be speculation as other sites may be down just for the fact of trying to keep themselves safe.