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Australian Commisssion Defends Playstation Mod-Chipping
newt writes "The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is intervening in a court case to defend Sony Playstation owners' right to modify their consoles to play imported games. The ACCC is submitting a friend of the court brief, arguing that Sony's regional playback controls are unlawful. This has implications for DVD region zoning too: The ACCC has previously
published its concerns about DVD regioning, and its latest press release about this case reiterates the problems presented to Australian consumers by Sony's practices."
I'd guess on the left since Austrilia was basically a british colony if I remember correctly. (well British jail anyway :) So I'd guess on the left... but that's ok, you can drive on either side of the road in GTA3 and the cops still won't pull you over. You basically have to shoot someone, run someone over, bump another car hard enough for the cop notice, or tug on one of the cops doors to get in trouble. :) They'll also get you if you blow up stuff too. They get really pissed if you blow up air planes or helicopters. :)
I would rather live in a country founded by convicts, that one founded by puritans.
I am Slashdot. Are you Slashdot as well?
Funny, I always thought that 1 AND 0 = 0. The only way to get 1 out of an AND is to do 1 AND 1. Perhaps you meant OR?
Speak it, brother! How's that old geek saying go... "if you aren't voiding the warrenty, then you aren't even trying."
Of course, Australia has to beat the region controls first. Let's assume they do.
I'm guessing the remedy would be to require players sold in Australia to be capable of playing all regions.
This would result in Australian DVD players being exported to other countries. This gets done already but usually they require mods or they're expensive. But if you have a legit source of "official" DVD players, I think they'll prove popular.
US DVD Player manufacturers will either see this as a threat(because people will buy Aussie DVD players instead of American ones) or as an extra cost of business(because they'll have to effectively produce two different types of the same players) and start lobbying for the right to produce region-free players here as well.
...
Then Sony brings down the wrath of the WTO and crushes this newly gained freedom in Australia and the fantasy comes to an end.
...we know the real reason behind it.
The politicians can't get enough Hentai Dating Simulation games. Never underestimate the power of a school girl uniform and a 20 foot long penis-tentacle.
The Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws for the peace, order, and good government of the Commonwealth with respect to: ... (xviii.) Copyrights, patents of inventions and designs, and trade marks
Unlike the U.S. Constitution, this doesn't even specify a weak "limited times" guarantee. Therefore, Australia's Parliament has the right to pass a perpetual copyright on a given work.
Also it is a reasonably common enough occurance for the Commonwealth to convince all the states to pass a law, in effect making a commonwealth law that they are not supposed to make.
The US does this too, saying in effect "Pass these laws, or we take away your highway construction money." It puts a new spin on the term "highway robbery."
Will I retire or break 10K?
Dude. That's like replying "It's been a long time since 1st grade" when someone points out that 1+1=2. Some things you are not allowed to forget if you wish to remain a geek. :)