Oh dont start!

Piracy and copyright are two separate things, and links to xdk compiled binaries are not allowed here anyway!

So, x-s is pretty safe!

No1 reason why X-S is still here!!

And since when what??

We crack down on piracy as hard as we possibly can. We do help people make backups of copies they own. Don't bother arguing that what I'm saying isn't true, because you obviously don't scrutinize over the hundreds of thousands of posts here that may or may not stand a chance of getting this site shitcanned like some of the mods do. I've already got you pinned as the person that shouts, "Pirate kiddie!!!one!" when a user says they've hit a roadblock making a backup. So keep on contributing solid material like that.

Their manuals are covered under copyright.. so we try to respect that if possible.

...now.. alternatively...

If your manual is missing.. shot.. or damaged beyond belief.. contact the publisher and they'll send you a new one.

I've been doing this for years with all consoles.

Some ask for no proff you own the game.. others ask for the eexisting manual to be sent in.. others.. just want a photocopy of the copy of the case/upc.

Most game publishers are excellent about manuals.

Support the software publishers.. buy the software.

If you want to learn how to backup your investment.. enjoy XBOX SCENE.

Since this was the original question.. to get us back on topic...

XBOX SCENE with it's team of moderators scrutinize the board daily.. and do it's best to remove posts and topics that promote Blatant Piracy, Condone Theft and Fraud (as in WALMART SWAPS) and try to keep XDK produced file links off the site. This is an imperfect process.. and some do get through.

With this done.. all that is really left on the site is general backup discussion.. and modchip instructions. In and of itself perectly fine and legal.

Our mandate.. is to help you get the most out of your XBOX investment legally. We;ll discuss Hacked BIOS files.. but won't link to them. We'll discuss backup techniques.. but won't link to guys with warez or selling them. We'll allow basic discussion on patching games.. but not allow links to pirate scene releases.

It's all about walking a fine line.

XS.. being on the internet.. crosses every border in the world. So we try to balance our acceptable posting policy.. with general legal practive ion many/most countries. Other policies.. are in place not for legalities.. but for general ease of maintenance of this site.

That's how we've stayed afloat in this grey legal area.

As for MS.. many of their people and legal staff are members on this site.. and some are known to us. They are welcome here. As long as they follow acceptable posting policy themselves.

So.. as of now.. people can more opening talk about XBINS.. but can't post the FTP link or the IP of XBINS.

Now.. to more properly answer the question..

That's a good question. It too dances a fine line of legality. Someone more qualified to answer that question than me should answer. Preferably someone representing the administration of XBINS. I wouldn't presume to answer on their behalf.

It's just as well, most people post links to free sites that have bandwidth caps or acceptable use policies that prohibit download hosting. I'd rather links not be allowed than reading tons of posts from people bitching about dead links.

I run my own webserver 24/7 on my cable modem line and I wouldn't host the homebrew stuff... Not for the legal reasons* but because of the bandwidth use. As it is, hosting just my sig, a few random pictures here and there and some low-traffic sites for friends is all the bandwidth usage I'm willing to tolerate.

* If you build a house using a stolen hammer, the house is perfectly legal. However, if you use stolen lumber, things are quite a bit different. Using a pirated SDK to build homebrew applications is somewhere inbetween.

edit: forgot some words, need sleep

Even easier, they could just scan the drive for unsigned xbes. There are endless things they could do, but don't.

The point is MS doesn't currently care about that, they care about you trying to use the chip on live, not the fact that you have a chip.

Great post Vin!

Look at sat hacking sites.... If this forum was still open about piracy M$ could still not shut it down.

It's called free speech. The not condoning piracy is a personal decision by the administration, and a good one IMO

Until the sites starts linking to illegal software there is nothing anyone can do about sharing information.