LEGAL  

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20080612/0055131385.shtml

For many years, weve wondered why some folks considered the process of mod chipping to be illegal. After all, if you own a device, why shouldnt you be able to modify it? Its not illegal to modify your computer, so why would it be illegal to modify a game console? Well, thanks to the DMCA in the US, the question wasnt entirely clear -- because console makers use encryption, they consider any modification to be a circumvention of that encryption, and the DMCA has that pesky anti-circumvention clause. In the US, its become even more bizarre, with federal officials taking up the cause and fining mod chippers while claiming (seriously) that mod chipping was a national security issue.

Luckily, it looks like the courts in Europe are a lot more reasonable about all of this. A few years back, we noted that an Italian court ruled that mod chips were perfectly legal (Update: Well, darn. As a commenter notes, the Italian decision was later overturned). And, now, a tipster alerts us to the news that a UK appeals court has found the same thing, tossing out all of the charges against a mod chip seller, noting that mod chips do not circumvent copy protection systems. Not only that, but the defendant was awarded legal fees. This is a big deal, as the lower court had found the guy, Neil Higgs, guilty for selling mod chips he had imported from Hong Kong. So, now thats Italy and the UK that recognizes modifying your gaming consoles shouldnt be illegal. Anyone else?

Eggtasticos Pirate Rating :        

 

Wont stop microsoft banning your xbox as soon as you connect to live

And next Month illegal again, and then 3 months later...