Court extends ban on PS3 modchip sales

Renai LeMay
Monday, 06 September 2010 13:45

Your IT - Entertainment

Microsoft Office 365

Australia’s Federal Court has extended a ban on a handful of local retailers selling or importing hardware — commonly known as ‘mod chips’ — that allows unauthorised software to run on Sony’s PlayStation 3.

The court in late August had initiated the ban — with a temporary cessation date of 31 August — while court action initiated by Sony Computer Entertainment’s Australian and European arms against three local retailers goes ahead. The action stemmed from the retailers’ importation and advertisement for sale of the PS Jailbreak device — a USB key which defeats Sony’s protection on the PlayStation 3.

According to court documents filed late last week, the Australian retailers banned from selling the device are OzModChips and an individual who appears to be involved with the business — Ryan Caruana, Global Solutions International (trading as Quantronics) and Ken Tolcher (trading as Mod Supplier).

However, after further court action last week, Justice Dodds-Streeton, according to court documents posted online, extended the ban indefinitely. It is believed the ban may apply to other retailers not named in the suit — due to the use of the ‘Jane Doe’ and ‘John Doe’ terminology — may also be prohibited from selling the mod chip until the case is resolved.

The retailers are prohibited from importing the PS Jailbreak device, according to Dodds-Streeton’s order, distributing it, offering it to the public, providing it to another person, or otherwise dealing in the device.