Mod chip suppliers raided

Stephen Withers
Friday, 03 August 2007 03:36

Your IT - Entertainment

US authorities have raided homes and businesses in 16 states in a crackdown on suppliers of mod chips for game consoles.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) alleges the chips - intended for use in consoles such as the Sony PlayStation 2, Microsoft Xbox and Xbox 360, and Nintendo Wii - were illegally imported.

32 search warrants were executed by ICE agents assisted by representatives of the electronics industry.

"Illicit devices like the ones targeted today are created with one purpose in mind, subverting copyright protections," said Julie Myers, Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

While that may be the main attraction for some buyers, Myers' statement is questionable as mod chips are also used to allow legal software such as Linux to run on game consoles. They may also allow the use of backup copies of purchased game discs in the event the original is damaged, the use of genuine games purchased overseas (eg, NTSC games on PAL systems), and the installation of non-standard hard drives, among other features.

The Entertainment Software Association welcomed the raids. "Enforcement initiatives of this scope send a clear message to both the public and pirate community that this illegal activity will not be tolerated," said ESA president Michael Gallagher.

He claimed that "Yearly worldwide piracy costs total over $[US]3 billion," although this is likely based on the assumption that every unauthorised copy of a game represents a sale lost to the industry.

"Microsoft applauds ICE for its effort to reduce piracy and protect the intellectual property of Microsoft and its industry partners," said Microsoft officials. "This is an important step in the continuing fight against piracy and the threat it presents to the global economy and consumers throughout the world."