I've worked in the consumer software business for 20 years.
The difference here DJ is that Software doesn't follow the same rules as Hardware. When you buy hardware, yes you own it. When you buy software you DONT own it, well you do and you don't. You own the media it is on, and you have the right to use the software, but you don't have the right to reproduce it or make it better (unless it is GPL).
Certain types of radio hardware is also illegal to modify because of the risk of radio interference.
This also goes for the software which is part of the hardware (firmware). You cannot modify the software, however the hardware you are free to do whatever you want with it.
The issue here is simple, if you mod the pliers, you don't automatically get a copy of the pliers that you can sell which cost you nothing.
When people mod video game consoles, the intent usually is to copy software. You can say you are making a backup, but if you sell the backup you are in big trouble.
I also agree that these video game companies are really cashing in on their new consoles. $60 - $70 for a game now a days is ridiculous. Sure there will always be a small percentage of the population that figures out the copy protection and uses it for financial gain, the software companies know this and usually don't worry about it.
What they are trying to prevent is the large scale pirate operations that happen mainly out of China where millions of units change hands without royalties being paid to software companies.
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Re: Apparently the law forgets...
The difference here DJ is that Software doesn't follow the same rules as Hardware. When you buy hardware, yes you own it. When you buy software you DONT own it, well you do and you don't. You own the media it is on, and you have the right to use the software, but you don't have the right to reproduce it or make it better (unless it is GPL).
Certain types of radio hardware is also illegal to modify because of the risk of radio interference.
This also goes for the software which is part of the hardware (firmware). You cannot modify the software, however the hardware you are free to do whatever you want with it.
The issue here is simple, if you mod the pliers, you don't automatically get a copy of the pliers that you can sell which cost you nothing.
When people mod video game consoles, the intent usually is to copy software. You can say you are making a backup, but if you sell the backup you are in big trouble.
I also agree that these video game companies are really cashing in on their new consoles. $60 - $70 for a game now a days is ridiculous. Sure there will always be a small percentage of the population that figures out the copy protection and uses it for financial gain, the software companies know this and usually don't worry about it.
What they are trying to prevent is the large scale pirate operations that happen mainly out of China where millions of units change hands without royalties being paid to software companies.
Techdirt has not posted any stories submitted by Eric.
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