Nintendo Europe warns against Wii modchips

It looks like Nintendo’s European branch has started taking notice of the folks who are out to mod or alter their Wiis. A new post on the Nintendo U.K. website warns against the use of modchips to circumvent copy protection.

While we all can probably guess what it says, they didn’t hesitate to point out the illegality of using modchips as well as the warranty-voiding properties of using one. Said Nintendo of the unauthorized modding of Wiis for this purpose,

The use of mod chips voids the manufacturer’s warranty. In addition, the installation of a mod chip can damage the functionality of a Nintendo console, sometimes rendering it incapable of repair. Mod chips have been adjudicated to be illegal in various countries around the world, including the United States, the United Kingdom and Hong Kong. Most European countries have also already adopted laws prohibiting the circumvention of technological measures for copyright protection. People caught installing or selling mod chips may be subject to criminal charges.

It’s probably obvious to anyone who uses modchips, but let this be a warning to you. Nintendo’s got their eyes on the modding community, for both good applications of their Wii technology and bad.

It looks like Nintendo’s European branch has started taking notice of the folks who are out to mod or alter their Wiis. A new post on the Nintendo U.K. website warns against the use of modchips to circumvent copy protection.

While we all can probably guess what it says, they didn’t hesitate to point out the illegality of using modchips as well as the warranty-voiding properties of using one. Said Nintendo of the unauthorized modding of Wiis for this purpose,

The use of mod chips voids the manufacturer’s warranty. In addition, the installation of a mod chip can damage the functionality of a Nintendo console, sometimes rendering it incapable of repair. Mod chips have been adjudicated to be illegal in various countries around the world, including the United States, the United Kingdom and Hong Kong. Most European countries have also already adopted laws prohibiting the circumvention of technological measures for copyright protection. People caught installing or selling mod chips may be subject to criminal charges.

It’s probably obvious to anyone who uses modchips, but let this be a warning to you. Nintendo’s got their eyes on the modding community, for both good applications of their Wii technology and bad.