New Aussie law says “yes” to mod chips, “no” to region locked games

This is a story that dates back to 2003. That year Sony sued Eddy Stevens for selling PS2 units with mod chips that allowed the console to override the built-in protection to run legally bought imported games and to back up games legitimately. Of course, the mod chips made it possible for the console to run pirated materials.

Sony won. The appeals court down under ruled it was illegal to sell mod-chips to Australians – but it is still legal for Australians to own mod-chips. However, the victory was short-lived.

In 2005, the high court decided against Sony. The court criticized Sony for restricting the rights of consumers and restricting global market competition. “There is no copyright reason why the purchaser should not be entitled to copy the CD-ROM and modify the console in such a way as to enjoy his or her lawfully acquired property without inhibition.”

Now the lawmakers are making it final. A new law expected to come out this week will make it legal for consumers to use mod-chips that bypass built-in anti-piracy technology to allow the use of  DVDs and games titles purchased legally in other regions. However, the new law does not condone piracy. In fact, it outlaws chips built for the sole purpose of overcoming anti-piracy technology.

What does this mean for Sony, MS and Nintendo? In Australia, these companies must design a new technology that stops consumers from using illegal game titles without enforcing its region locked features. But for video gamers in Oz, the new law means cheaper games than the rest of the world. Now that’s a great reason to light up the fireworks.

Via Australian IT

This is a story that dates back to 2003. That year Sony sued Eddy Stevens for selling PS2 units with mod chips that allowed the console to override the built-in protection to run legally bought imported games and to back up games legitimately. Of course, the mod chips made it possible for the console to run pirated materials.

Sony won. The appeals court down under ruled it was illegal to sell mod-chips to Australians – but it is still legal for Australians to own mod-chips. However, the victory was short-lived.

In 2005, the high court decided against Sony. The court criticized Sony for restricting the rights of consumers and restricting global market competition. “There is no copyright reason why the purchaser should not be entitled to copy the CD-ROM and modify the console in such a way as to enjoy his or her lawfully acquired property without inhibition.”

Now the lawmakers are making it final. A new law expected to come out this week will make it legal for consumers to use mod-chips that bypass built-in anti-piracy technology to allow the use of  DVDs and games titles purchased legally in other regions. However, the new law does not condone piracy. In fact, it outlaws chips built for the sole purpose of overcoming anti-piracy technology.

What does this mean for Sony, MS and Nintendo? In Australia, these companies must design a new technology that stops consumers from using illegal game titles without enforcing its region locked features. But for video gamers in Oz, the new law means cheaper games than the rest of the world. Now that’s a great reason to light up the fireworks.

Via Australian IT