Only a pirate would turn a game console into a general purpose computing device. - by lost_soul
lost_soul on 4/8/2009 at 18:09
What do you guys think of BS like this?
(
http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/tech/Cal-State-Student-Faces-10-Year-Prison-Term-for-Playing-with-Video-Games-52386872.html)
Quite honestly, this is why I would rather die than fight for this country in any war. Their goal is to produce stupid people who cannot "think outside the box" and have no ability to turn a screwdriver into a hammer. Next thing you know, these pigs will be attacking people for making an Ipod play Ogg Vorbis files or run open-source software... "you must buy another player for that!"
In the article, they try and make it out that the only reason someone would mod a console is to play pirated games. After seeing this, I will never buy another console unless it can run arbitrary code.
Renault on 4/8/2009 at 18:20
I didn't think you could be arrested for just modifying a console, I thought that the copied games would need to be present too. In any case, I'm guessing 99% of people who modify their consoles are copying games anyway, so the charges probably aren't too far off the mark.
In addition, I can't think of any way the "Entertainment Software Association" would have any way of knowing the consoles are modified if he isn't playing copied games. Kinda sounds like a BS news story put out there just to try and scare people.
And the bit about "I would rather die than fight for this country in any war," pretty melodramatic, don't you think? :rolleyes:
Shadow on 4/8/2009 at 18:22
“Piracy, counterfeiting and other intellectual property rights violations not only cost U.S. businesses jobs and billions of dollars a year in lost revenue, they can also pose significant health and safety risks to consumers,” he said.
good ol ip police, always looking out for my health and well being
Koki on 4/8/2009 at 18:34
Next on Fox News: Downloading music linked to increased cancer risk
lost_soul on 4/8/2009 at 18:38
Quote Posted by Brethren
And the bit about "I would rather die than fight for this country in any war," pretty melodramatic, don't you think? :rolleyes:
No, this nation is trying to bring this absurd law to the rest of the world. I would never assist them in doing so.
Ulukai on 4/8/2009 at 18:42
Be interested to see what he actually gets charged with once everyone calms down.
Al_B on 4/8/2009 at 18:50
Not being an expert, circumventing copyright measures as part of the DMCA would be my guess.
It's a shame. I completely support being able to do and run whatever you want on any computing device you own. I do, however, understand why that can be a piracy issue and in this case I think the guy was probably leaving himself open by making a profit from what he did.
lost_soul on 4/8/2009 at 18:56
Quote Posted by Al_B
Not being an expert, circumventing copyright measures as part of the DMCA would be my guess.
It's a shame. I completely support being able to do and run whatever you want on any computing device you own. I do, however, understand why that can be a piracy issue and in this case I think the guy was probably leaving himself open by making a profit from what he did.
Do you think this will eventually be applied to users of software like Rockbox for MP3 players?
Xenith on 4/8/2009 at 19:04
How the heck did they get to him anyway?
Al_B on 4/8/2009 at 19:05
I don't support the restrictions in the first place - sorry if my post gave that impression. I don't like piracy but if I buy some hardware (console / iPod or anything else) then I feel shouldn't be locked into only running 'authorised' software.
