Another mod-chip dealer walks Sony’s plank
Canadian piracy enabler sent sharkwards.
In its continuing war on mod-chip manufacturers, distributors and dealers, Sony has terminated the operations of a Canadian man dealing in “circumvention devices,” bringing about a successful prosecution.
"This is an important case of first impression in Canada," said Riley Russell, general counsel, Sony Computer Entertainment America. "Sony Computer Entertainment America has been fighting circumvention devices like these within U.S. borders for years. We are pleased that our neighbour to the North has recognised the illegitimacy of these devices under applicable law."
This is yet another groundbreaking case for Sony. It was widely believed that mod-chips were above the law, simply because they contain no intellectual property of any third party. Unlike a pirated game disc that clearly contains other people’s work, the mod-chip is simply a device that bypasses the regional and piracy protection of a machine.
Sony’s case is simple: if these chips did not exist, piracy would be impossible as consoles would reject any counterfeit software.
The man in question, a Mr Robert Garby of Kustom Komputers, was found guilty of six counts of criminal code violation and copyright law infringement and was fined $170,000 CA and sentenced to one year of probation.
It’s worth remembering that developers make games, and publishers release them in order to make a living. If piracy continues to spread as it has in recent times, these jobs will be made untenable and the quantity and quality of games will be reduced.
"This is an important case of first impression in Canada," said Riley Russell, general counsel, Sony Computer Entertainment America. "Sony Computer Entertainment America has been fighting circumvention devices like these within U.S. borders for years. We are pleased that our neighbour to the North has recognised the illegitimacy of these devices under applicable law."
This is yet another groundbreaking case for Sony. It was widely believed that mod-chips were above the law, simply because they contain no intellectual property of any third party. Unlike a pirated game disc that clearly contains other people’s work, the mod-chip is simply a device that bypasses the regional and piracy protection of a machine.
Sony’s case is simple: if these chips did not exist, piracy would be impossible as consoles would reject any counterfeit software.
The man in question, a Mr Robert Garby of Kustom Komputers, was found guilty of six counts of criminal code violation and copyright law infringement and was fined $170,000 CA and sentenced to one year of probation.
It’s worth remembering that developers make games, and publishers release them in order to make a living. If piracy continues to spread as it has in recent times, these jobs will be made untenable and the quantity and quality of games will be reduced.
Companies:
Sony
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