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Xbox 360 Jailbreaker May Need Real Jailbreak

An anonymous reader writes "Back in July, the Librarian of Congress officially made it legal to jailbreak your iPhone (or any phone). So why is it that the government is trying to prosecute Matthew Crippen for jailbreaking Xbox 360s? If convicted, he could face up to three years in prison, and lawyers are trying to prevent the author of a book about jailbreaking the original Xbox from testifying in Crippen's defense. What kind of law says it's okay to jailbreak the phone in your pocket, but not your gaming console?"

359 comments

  1. Apple xbox by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Gah, Apple! Making all these locked down devices like the iphone and the xbox...

    1. Re:Apple xbox by Pojut · · Score: 1

      Because somehow the "jailbreak" vernacular has replaced every instance of "hacking" when restrictions are involved. I know why it was called "jailbreaking", but just like with the phrase "apps", it didn't become widespread common usage applied to nearly everything until it involved Apple products. That does not make sense.

      Note: yes I'm aware that the phrase "app" has been used for a long time, but again, it wasn't in widespread common usage, applied to almost every piece of software, until the App Store.

    2. Re:Apple xbox by PopeRatzo · · Score: 3, Funny

      Because somehow the "jailbreak" vernacular has replaced every instance of "hacking"

      It's a way to make it sound more evil. You could say it's "customizing". Or "personalizing", but the corporate masters have to make it sound really really bad.

      If this keeps on, by my calculations, doing what you want with a product you own will soon be known as "murder", or "terrorism" or maybe "baby-rape".

      I can see it now. "He is being prosecuted for baby-raping his Playstation 3".

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    3. Re:Apple xbox by commodore64_love · · Score: 2, Insightful

      "You're not allowed to pirate or jailbreak!"

      I'm not. I am sampling the TV show to see if I like it (no) (it sucked worse than Star Wars Episode 1), and I am customizing my phone to my own preferences. I paid for it; it's mine to do whatever I please; including hitting it with a hammer, if that's what I desire.

      "Uhhh... no it isn't yours."

      Absurd. Of course the phone/box/whatever is mine.

      --
      "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - historian Evelyn Beatrice Hall
    4. Re:Apple xbox by sootman · · Score: 1

      >> Because somehow the "jailbreak" vernacular has replaced every instance of "hacking"

      > It's a way to make it sound more evil.

      No, I'm pretty sure the name's origins are strictly technical as it involves breaking out of a chroot jail. Right? If anyone knows for sure, please reply.

      --
      Dear Slashdot: next time you want to mess with the site, add a rich-text editor for comments.
    5. Re:Apple xbox by surgen · · Score: 1

      Because somehow the "jailbreak" vernacular has replaced every instance of "hacking" when restrictions are involved. I know why it was called "jailbreaking", but just like with the phrase "apps", it didn't become widespread common usage applied to nearly everything until it involved Apple products. That does not make sense.

      While there is no arguing with the Chewbacca defense, I think its because "hacking" doesn't fit into widespread vocabulary the same way it does in ours, and the iPhone was the first place where having to hack your own product to make it do what you want became such a widespread desire. I put a custom firmware on my router ages ago but things like that are really nerdy and have small appeal compared to simply visiting a webpage that will hack your phone to do what you want. Jailbreak was a clever verb for it and it took off because it makes the software creator seem like one in the wrong, not the "hacker".

    6. Re:Apple xbox by Culture20 · · Score: 1

      yes I'm aware that the phrase "app" has been used for a long time, but again, it wasn't in widespread common usage, applied to almost every piece of software, until the App Store.

      I disagree. "Application" was in widespread use, and geeks (and their acquaintances) used "app" forever. I know that Apple wants to own "App" in trademark and copyright, but they shouldn't be able to.

    7. Re:Apple xbox by CheerfulMacFanboy · · Score: 1

      Because somehow the "jailbreak" vernacular has replaced every instance of "hacking"

      It's a way to make it sound more evil. You could say it's "customizing". Or "personalizing", but the corporate masters have to make it sound really really bad.

      And by "corporate masters" you mean the guys who developed the "jailbreaks".

      --
      Fandroids hate facts.
    8. Re:Apple xbox by Pojut · · Score: 2, Insightful

      "Application" was in widespread use, and geeks (and their acquaintances) used "app" forever.

      See the bold part of your comment, which was exactly my point: it wasn't in widespread common usage. I now hear average, non-geeky folks referring to things like Photoshop or Firefox as an "app".

      I know that, technically, there's nothing wrong with this...it's just really annoying.

    9. Re:Apple xbox by Teancum · · Score: 1

      "Uhhh... no it isn't yours."

      Absurd. Of course the phone/box/whatever is mine.

      That is why often those companies wanting to exercise more "control" instead lease the equipment rather than sell it. Cable companies have known about this for some time and refuse to sell their equipment to their customers. This way it isn't necessarily "your" equipment but rather it belongs to whoever made it in the first place. That way, they can claim that you really don't "own" the equipment.

      In the case of most content providers, they are trying to go to a leasing model of content distribution where you only temporarily have the content instead of having ownership of a copy.

    10. Re:Apple xbox by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yep, this is why I don't use Windows, it's only a matter of time before Microsoft locks that down too.

      Obviously OS X is out of the question since the iPod doesn't let me run my own software on it.

      I was going to use Linux, but apparently all the Androids are locked down and have NASCAR on the main screen.

      The only way to stick to my morals is to not use a computer, which is why I've telegraphed this message via Western Union.

    11. Re:Apple xbox by yomammamia · · Score: 1

      Everyone knows that the real term for it is owning.

    12. Re:Apple xbox by joeyblades · · Score: 1

      Except that the term "jailbreak" has bigger negative connotations for the corporate masters. They don't want customers to have the impression of being imprisoned by their devices. I'm pretty sure the term "jailbreak" came from the "jailed" user community.

    13. Re:Apple xbox by HermMunster · · Score: 1

      What precisely are they protecting the American people from? Some guy jailbreaks his xbox360 and The American people need protection from that?

      As long as you can jailbreak your phone making this a crime is ridiculous. I think the Library of Congress should be called on this because frankly I'm sure their exemption is worded to narrowly and I'm sure they meant that devices such as this for personal use (not just phones) should be exempt.

      --
      You can lead a man with reason but you can't make him think.
    14. Re:Apple xbox by stewbacca · · Score: 1

      You forgot the Apple PS3.

    15. Re:Apple xbox by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 1

      Why not turn the tide? Gulag-break your iPhone and XBox today!

    16. Re:Apple xbox by mattack2 · · Score: 1

      Cable companies have known about this for some time and refuse to sell their equipment to their customers.

      That's why the FCC made the Cable Card requirement, so you can have your own equipment. (Also, Tuning Adapters for SDV channels -- though I admittedly don't know if you can buy your own Tuning Adapters.. At least they were required to exist so as to NOT make Cable Cards ineffective.)

    17. Re:Apple xbox by commodore64_love · · Score: 1

      What's a tuning adapter?

      The FCC also ruled that customers should be free to use non-Comcast owned equipment on the lines. The FCC is trying to give customers freedom to buy a box, instead of being forced to rent one.

      --
      "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - historian Evelyn Beatrice Hall
    18. Re:Apple xbox by mattack2 · · Score: 1

      "non-Comcast owned equipment".. that's exactly what I'm talking about.

      Maybe I was wrong about tuning adapters.. from Wikipedia:

      In 2008, some cable companies started to roll out switched digital video (SDV) technology, which initially was incompatible with the Series-3 and TiVo HD units. TiVo Inc worked with cable operators on a tuning-adapter with USB connection to the TiVo to enable SDV. Some MSOs now offer these adapters for free to their customers with TiVo DVRs.

      I thought those were a FCC mandate. They are another separate box to allow Tivos (and I had thought _other_ devices) use SDV channels, which require upstream communication, and Cable Cards are a one-way technology.

    19. Re:Apple xbox by Lotharus · · Score: 1

      In some cases, the phone isn't really completely yours. If you purchased your phone at a discount as part of a service carrier's promotion, that carrier paid for part of the phone (and thereby, in some sense, has part ownership of the device), until they recoup the cost through your monthly service fees.

      Of course, if you bought an iPhone (for example) directly from Apple at full retail price, then yes, it's yours.

  2. What kind of law? by DeadPixels · · Score: 5, Insightful

    What kind of law says it's okay to jailbreak the phone in your pocket, but not your gaming console?"

    The kind of law "sponsored" by Microsoft, Sony, and other industry lobbyists.

    1. Re:What kind of law? by __aatirs3925 · · Score: 1, Interesting

      I would give you modpoints if I knew how for that answer :)

    2. Re:What kind of law? by nedlohs · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The law they sponsored doesn't let you jailbreak the phone either.

      That's a specific exemption that is not part of law itself (well the existance of exemptions is, but not what those excemptions are).

    3. Re:What kind of law? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Other way around. Blanket law with exceptions.

    4. Re:What kind of law? by koreaman · · Score: 3, Informative

      You have to be given modpoints by the system before you can mod people up. The UI will make it fairly obvious that you are able to moderate if and when that happens.

    5. Re:What kind of law? by somersault · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Or the law aided by lawyers with iPhones and who don't give a crap about the original Xbox

      --
      which is totally what she said
    6. Re:What kind of law? by gknoy · · Score: 1

      You're also ineligible to moderate in any article that you've replied to (and replying will trash any mod points you'd already applied therein).

    7. Re:What kind of law? by Mista2 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      In the land of the fee...., and the home of the laws bought by big media companies. Doesn't quite rhyme properly any more.

    8. Re:What kind of law? by syleishere · · Score: 0

      It will only work against them in long run, gamers want to play games off their hard drives, not have a million cd's taking up space. They also want to be able to load older games like nintendo roms and such and modify it way they want. If 360 is NOT cracked soon, ps3 will win the war since we can now jailbreak that system, code custom apps for it, and play downloaded games. Only thing MS has going for it is their xbox live, and that is only because the community has not yet converted to playing free on ps3, but with their recent announcement of raising prices on xbox live to compensate people slowly switching, they are only making it faster.

    9. Re:What kind of law? by __aatirs3925 · · Score: 1

      thanks to all of you!

    10. Re:What kind of law? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The analogy is the seller of the gun (or liquor bottle) is subsequently being charged with murder or drink driving and homicide. Why are we not charging the store owner who sold you the X-box with assisting piracy?

      Google for China and drop shippers - pick one and get your own improved un-locker - they are up to version 5 now. Unlike rare earths, China will sell you this one.

      Anyway there are 2 problems here Unlocking is automatically linked to copyright infringement (civil) + false cause - whereas the DCMA is another separate matter. Ask anyone is rest of the world about region locked games at non-world prices and not being able to recover from worn out media.

    11. Re:What kind of law? by delinear · · Score: 1

      You can already download games from the Live service and play them from the hard drive (if you don't mind paying MS's extortionate prices). You can also install any game from a disk to the hard drive, although you still need to insert the disk to play the game - I assume it does some check to ensure the disk is present before streaming the actual data from the HDD. You've been able to do both of these things on the 360 for a while. What would be really nice is the ability to install the game to the hard drive from a disk but not have the disk present, meaning I can enjoy the benefits of finding the cheapest copy of the game AND playing without needing the disk on both the 360s I have at home (carrying the disk between them is a completely unecessary chore put in place purely to prevent piracy, yet another way in which legitimate customers are disadvantaged in order to try and crack down on pirates, meanwhile pirates easily avoid the measures and get all the benefit).

    12. Re:What kind of law? by DJRumpy · · Score: 1, Interesting

      I suspect it's not as simple (or as underhanded) as people are implying. The phone is a utility device, with a long contract, which unlike common 'dumb' phones, cannot be moved from carrier to carrier as was originally intended. The X-Box was never intended to move from entertainment network to entertainment network, nor does it have a sim for just such a purpose.

      On one hand we have a device that was design for portability to another carrier, and another device that was never designed for it.

      I don't think there is any underhandedness at all. Although they are both a very specific class of computers, they are not the same type of device.

    13. Re:What kind of law? by 91degrees · · Score: 1

      If you sell a gun to someone you know is planning to use it or murder, then you're an accessory.

      Most people who chip their XBox want to use it for pirate games.

    14. Re:What kind of law? by Terrasque · · Score: 4, Funny

      Doesn't quite rhyme properly any more.

      The land of the fee and home of the slave?

      --
      It's The Golden Rule: "He who has the gold makes the rules."
    15. Re:What kind of law? by Ash+Vince · · Score: 1

      The kind of law "sponsored" by Microsoft, Sony, and other industry lobbyists.

      Actually, this is about illegal copying funnily enough.

      The iPhone protection was plainly about stopping you use the device on a different network. This is a right that is very difficult to take away from the person who bought the device though as it fairly protected.

      The protection on the Xbox does have an element to it which is about not allowing the device to play games from copied disks. Unfortunately this element of the protection is also removed by jailbreaking your xbox so it clearly falls foul of this law.

      --
      I dont read /. to RTFA, I read /. to offend people in ignorance.
    16. Re:What kind of law? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hmm, the land of the fee should be Norway. We have fees for _everything_ here :S.

    17. Re:What kind of law? by elrous0 · · Score: 4, Informative

      If the tech community hadn't been asleep at the wheel when the WIPO Copyright Treaty was being negotiated, then we wouldn't be at this point. I remember going around to various usenet groups warning them about the provisions of this treaty and being laughed at for suggesting that it would ever be a criminal offense to mod your own hardware and crack programs.

      --
      SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
    18. Re:What kind of law? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The UI will make it fairly obvious that you are able to moderate if and when that happens.

      When I finally became eligible to moderate, I had mod points for days before I discovered what the dropdown was all about---I just figured it was one of the "constant" tweaks going on to the site. The FAQ never covered how to perform moderation, just the etiquette thereof.

      I emailed Malda and suggested that something a little more "in your face" be done for first time moderators. As it is, I ignored the notice that was apparently staring me in the face because it was off to the side, where the advertisements belong :P

    19. Re:What kind of law? by AltairDusk · · Score: 1

      How is it ever right that you be legally barred from modifying a computer you paid for and own? The concept is ludicrous from the start. The Xbox 360 is a specialized computer, you're not leasing or renting it, you bought it, you own it. You should have every right to modify that equipment as you see fit, just as Microsoft has the right to ban that console from accessing the network that they own.

    20. Re:What kind of law? by TheQuantumShift · · Score: 1

      Cute, but not quite accurate. Last I checked consumption of big media wasn't compulsory (yet). Don't like Microsoft's lockdown on the 360? Don't buy one. Don't like Sony's rootkits? Don't buy their CD's. The only way any of the DRM shenanigans will change is if we stop buying into them. Fine for you and me, but the vast majority of consumers don't know and or care. Our only hope is that these companies will screw it up so bad that people will start to be frustrated by the constant and needless hoops they have to jump through. Seeing as how people have been trained to just put up with all the BS associated with proprietary software, and just accept that "computers just get slow" and "nothing can be done about malware", I won't be holding my breath...

      --

      Shift happens. Fire it up.
    21. Re:What kind of law? by AltairDusk · · Score: 1

      You can also install any game from a disk to the hard drive, although you still need to insert the disk to play the game - I assume it does some check to ensure the disk is present before streaming the actual data from the HDD.

      I've always found that restriction to be ridiculous, for me it removes most of the benefit I would get from installing the game to HDD. They clearly have the capability since you can with the Games on Demand from Live (nearly all of which are priced by someone who has no idea what the market price for the game really is, buy them and your wallet will hate you for it).

    22. Re:What kind of law? by im+just+cannonfodder · · Score: 1

      hear hear... these corporations are a blight on society.

    23. Re:What kind of law? by multisync · · Score: 3, Insightful

      You have to be given modpoints by the system before you can mod people up. The UI will make it fairly obvious that you are able to moderate if and when that happens.

      And try not to be a dick about it, like the tool that moderated koreaman's comment Offtopic. It was, but it also provided helpful insight for new users like yourself. Leaving it scored at 1 and giving a positive moderation to a good comment instead would have served the discussion better.

      (You were also modded OT - probably by the same person - for a clearly ON topic comment, which should give you an idea of how useful the moderation system here is).

      --
      I don't care why you're posting AC
    24. Re:What kind of law? by DJRumpy · · Score: 3, Informative

      I don't think they care if you modify your XBox. They do care if you break DRM to pirate software. The specific question was why the XBox was not included in the 'jailbreak' exceptions stated by the Librarian of Congress, but smart phones were.

    25. Re:What kind of law? by Khisanth+Magus · · Score: 3, Insightful

      If they didn't have that check, what is to stop you from just going and renting every game you want to play, put it on your hard drive, and return the disk. Repeat until you have gone through the 360 section of the nearby rental place.

    26. Re:What kind of law? by tlhIngan · · Score: 1

      How is it ever right that you be legally barred from modifying a computer you paid for and own? The concept is ludicrous from the start. The Xbox 360 is a specialized computer, you're not leasing or renting it, you bought it, you own it. You should have every right to modify that equipment as you see fit, just as Microsoft has the right to ban that console from accessing the network that they own.

      You can modify it yourself just fine. However, the law really hates it when you do it commercially. Do it yourself, fine. Run a business to do it? Well, now you're in a bit more trouble because of the profit motive. If you'll note, there are plenty of people who can do jailbreaking of Xbox360s and Microsoft ignores them. There are plenty of modded Xbox360s out there.

      You've been able to do both of these things on the 360 for a while. What would be really nice is the ability to install the game to the hard drive from a disk but not have the disk present, meaning I can enjoy the benefits of finding the cheapest copy of the game AND playing without needing the disk on both the 360s I have at home (carrying the disk between them is a completely unecessary chore put in place purely to prevent piracy, yet another way in which legitimate customers are disadvantaged in order to try and crack down on pirates, meanwhile pirates easily avoid the measures and get all the benefit).

      How do you propose to protect against this scenario? I rent a game from Gamefly (think Netflix for games), or get it via Goosiz (??? - it's a used game trading site). I get the game, rip it to my Xbox360. I then return the game (and get a new one, or you get points you can trade for another game, and new releases are worth more).

      Lather, rinse, repeat. Given I'm sure a number of /.'ers already do this with Netflix DVDs (rent/rip/return). If Microsoft allowed this, game sales would definitely plummet (and there would be brisk sales for those offering hacked hard drives).

      The only way I see it is if the DVD contains a unique serial number, in which case the Xbox verifies it with Microsoft to ensure that the same serial number doesn't show up in multiple places within a short period of time or seem to move around a lot, or show up multiple times simultaneously. This is doable on the PS3 as that is one of ROM-Mark's possible functions is a unique serial number per disc. Don't think it's used, but it's something Sony can use to brick people's PS3s with.

      Right now, the only reason the disc is required is the disc is encrypted, and the Xbox360's ripper doesn't rip the key, so it needs the disc to decrypt the on-harddrive copy. Games you download have a separate key in their license, which is why they act differently. But obviously you cannot have Microsoft give you a "ripped DVD key" since it doesn't protect against rent/rip/return.
      But sell and advertise that you'll modify consoles to play pirated games and the like, and you'll find your modding services severely curtailed. It's a reason most modders don't take cash - you bring your Xbox360 to them and a beer as a courtesy call. This has been going on forever since the PSX days. Most PSX mod stores sell legit games and you have to ask for special service, and don't advertise. There have been enough crackdowns the past 15 years for the PSX, PS2, Xbox, etc. It's also why modders tend to advertise only in small time classified ads and it's almost always done in the home, never an actual place of business.

      Still, no love either way - considering the documentation is out there, and there's a community of people willing to do it for a nominal gift, the for-profits tend to rub the whole community the wrong way and get crackdowns going.

      It's also why what Sony's doing is more unethical because besides going after the business selling modchips (PS Jailbreak, Lik-Sang) they go after customers as well. The only time Microsoft has done so

    27. Re:What kind of law? by Enderandrew · · Score: 1

      The DCMA says it is illegal to circumvent copyright measures for any reason. I hate the personally as I like to remove DRM from legally purchased games as I find it a hassle to insert and scratch discs, not to mention that DRM usually just causes unnecessary crashes in games.

      But you're under the same legal scrutiny with your home PC as the XBox 360. You can customize the hardware so much as to paint it, add lights, change fans, etc. However any modification that might allow pirated software is the same as cracking a PC title.

      The iPhone jailbreak is legal only so much as to add additional functionality, and is not legal to pirate apps on the iPhone.

      If 360 hackers released a hack that only added homebrew support, and didn't allow for piracy of apps, they'd have a legal argument.

      --
      http://blindscribblings.com - Tasty pop-culture in conceptual fashion.
    28. Re:What kind of law? by clydemaxwell · · Score: 1

      this is terrible logic..
      the iPhone jailbreak does not prevent you from using pirated 'apps', but neither does it require you to do so.
      the xboxjailbreak does not prevent you from using pirated software, but neither does it require you to do so.

      Where's the difference?

      --
      Browsing with classic discussion, noscript, at -1 and nested
      no hidden comments and I only mod UP
    29. Re:What kind of law? by Enderandrew · · Score: 1

      It is illegal to circumvent copyright protection.

      If you use the current Limera1n jailbreak, it doesn't ALLOW you to pirate apps by itself. You would need to take additional steps before the copyright protections were really compromised.

      The 360 hacks allow remove copyright protection.

      That is the difference between the two.

      --
      http://blindscribblings.com - Tasty pop-culture in conceptual fashion.
    30. Re:What kind of law? by Jonner · · Score: 1

      Well, I'm satisfied. As long as a state's political philosophy can be summarized concisely in rhyme, it must be correct.

    31. Re:What kind of law? by Jonner · · Score: 1

      You've certainly opened my eyes. I hadn't considered just how basic DRM is to our way of life. Won't somebody please think of the ch^H^Hmedia giants.

    32. Re:What kind of law? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The kind of law that says it wasn't okay yesterday when you did it.

    33. Re:What kind of law? by BigSes · · Score: 2, Funny

      The land of the fee and home of the slave?

      Actually, we prefer the term "Commercialized American".

    34. Re:What kind of law? by gameboyhippo · · Score: 1

      Because you totally can't do this with PC games today.

      Now I agree that businesses need to be paid for their hard work, but I think we need to take a different approach to the issue.

    35. Re:What kind of law? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      +1 Offtopic

    36. Re:What kind of law? by Khisanth+Magus · · Score: 1

      What kind of approach would that be? Every single thing that any company has done to try and reduce the number of copies of their product that has been stolen has been vilified as evil DRM that is oppressing the masses. I dislike disk checks as much as anyone, and often use cracks for games I legally own on my laptop for convenience sake. I can understand why they do it though. It at least stops a small portion of the population from just making copies of the disk and giving it to all their friends/classmates/random people on the street.

    37. Re:What kind of law? by Khisanth+Magus · · Score: 1

      Yes, because people only steal games from big companies. How about the little video game shop that is just trying to get by, particularly the one trying to get by without having to sell out to one of the video game giants.

      Then we have the Japanese Anime industry here in the US, which has been collapsing for some time under the weight of theft. Several large companies have already folded, companies that almost certainly could have kept going strong if people had actually paid for stuff instead of just downloading it. The industry has never publicized horribly inaccurate numbers like the MAFIAA has, but it has become apparent that downloading is hitting them very hard

    38. Re:What kind of law? by Jonner · · Score: 1

      How many games from small companies are available to rent at your nearby rental place? If you want an example of a small game developer that doesn't seem to need DRM to survive, check out 2D Boy. After trying World of Goo, I paid for it specifically because I could download a version for any of the platforms I wanted to run it on without stupid restrictions. Maybe it's beyond the ken of the average console gamer, but downloading and installing a cracked version of just about any popular Windows game is extremely easy. Why do developers spend so much effort releasing so Windows if they can't "protect" their investment?

    39. Re:What kind of law? by Jonner · · Score: 1

      An obvious approach that some companies have taken is to realize that if someone gets a copy of a game by any route, they are now aware of the game and developer and might be interested in paying for additional content or games in the future. Many of the game purchases I have made were preceded by obtaining an unauthorized copy of the game, a predecessor, or other game from the same developer.

    40. Re:What kind of law? by sumdumass · · Score: 1

      IT doesn't include the exception because there is no prevailing legitimate need for it. The cell phone provision was excepted because it made the phones that you were forced to pay for by either up front costs, a service contract length of service, or a combination of both- useless when leaving a carrier. In short, the primary reason for jail breaking a cell phone is to continue using it legitimately with another service. With the Xbox, the primary reason for breaking it is to pirate software or bypass security measures that restricted the pirating of software- specifically what the law was intended to prevent.

    41. Re:What kind of law? by X0563511 · · Score: 1

      Unless you switch clean your cookies, session, and switch IP.

      But that's a lot of work for the gain :/

      --
      For large sets, this will be our guide even unto death, for the LORD will work for each type of data it is applied to...
    42. Re:What kind of law? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hey, We have the best damn laws money can buy.

    43. Re:What kind of law? by pxc · · Score: 1

      Can you even name a place that rents PC games?

    44. Re:What kind of law? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      As opposed to "Land of the Free and Home of the Brave" ?

      How dare you insult corporate America like that !!!!!

  3. Is it just me... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Or is anyone else sick of the term "jailbreak"? It sounds stupid.

    1. Re:Is it just me... by spire3661 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Jailbreak is fine, otherwise the old media will go back to calling it 'hacking', in the bad context.

      --
      Good-bye
    2. Re:Is it just me... by bloodhawk · · Score: 5, Informative

      In this case jailbreak is not fine. He wasn't jailbreaking the Xbox, he was charging people to mod it to play backups/pirated media. Jailbreaking is generally accepted as removing device enforced limits on what 3rd party software can run. The mod he was using still will not allow homebrew or other non approved software to work.

    3. Re:Is it just me... by rickzor · · Score: 5, Informative

      Actually, it would allow homebrew software. His mod was an extension of the soldering mod that allowed users to install linux on the original xbox, instead modified for the 360 hardware. All the mod does is stop the xbox from checking if it is a factory made, xbox manufactured game when you load a disc (somewhat like how a jailbroken iphone can use non app-store apps) and instead it will run whatever you stick in there, from game backups to a bios bootloader.

      Also, the article states that he would only mod for backups, and if piracy were brought up it would be a "no-deal".

    4. Re:Is it just me... by delinear · · Score: 1

      I wish MS would give us a legitimate way to install games to the HDD and not need the disk present to play. Even if it was something like a one-time-use code that ties the game to your gamertag, still no good for used games but it would work with new games and prevent me having to switch disks when I change consoles or go visit friends/relatives with consoles. If they don't, people like this come up with non-legitimate ways to do it so they're only hurting their paying customers by not offering this (at the very least if MS offered a way to do this legitimately they could argue against the stock "it's only for backups" excuse).

    5. Re:Is it just me... by RulerOf · · Score: 1

      Also, the article states that he would only mod for backups, and if piracy were brought up it would be a "no-deal".

      Lol. Just like the head shop up the street that sells all those wicked, color-changing bow^H^H^H tobacco pipes!

      --
      Boot Windows, Linux, and ESX over the network for free.
    6. Re:Is it just me... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Except that exactly this isn't possible on 360. By modding the DVD-ROM (which he apparently did), he cannot run his own software - he can only run copied games that are already signed by Microsoft. This is totally different from what bunnie did on the original xbox.

    7. Re:Is it just me... by AltairDusk · · Score: 1

      So it's now illegal to have backups? I suggest you look up fair use rights.

    8. Re:Is it just me... by tgd · · Score: 1

      Games bought via XBox Live for download work that way -- the purchase is tied to your XBox Live account and the target device, so no disk is needed.

      If they let you copy the disk, then you could resell the disk and keep playing the game. Given the way the used game market works, the market for game purchases would evaporate overnight.

    9. Re:Is it just me... by numbski · · Score: 1

      Except that I honestly thought that (in terms of the iPhone) that it was a literal unix-type jail. I was wrong - the AFC mode was setting the filesystem read-only, and the "jailbreak" as it were basically puts AFC into restore mode. It was almost 2 years after the fact before I realized that it wasn't a literal jail.

      Now that the terminology is being thrown around so liberally, it irritates the crap outta me.

      --

      Karma: Chameleon (mostly due to the fact that you come and go).

    10. Re:Is it just me... by Mister+Whirly · · Score: 1

      But my Top tobacco always tastes better when I smoke it out of a $300 glass pipe!

      --
      "But this one goes to 11!"
    11. Re:Is it just me... by Hatta · · Score: 1

      By modding the DVD-ROM (which he apparently did), he cannot run his own software - he can only run copied games that are already signed by Microsoft.

      You mean like backups of his licensed software? You just made a pretty strong argument that there are non-infringing uses of this hack.

      --
      Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
    12. Re:Is it just me... by RulerOf · · Score: 1

      But my Top tobacco always tastes better when I smoke it out of a $300 glass pipe!

      Don't forget the double bubbler! The Top is SOOO SMOOTH that way! And you can add ice cubes!

      --
      Boot Windows, Linux, and ESX over the network for free.
    13. Re:Is it just me... by bloodhawk · · Score: 1

      He was modding the DVD-ROM from what I read, that means no homebrew, the game/software must be MS signed.

    14. Re:Is it just me... by bloodhawk · · Score: 1

      Why would you mod an Xbox for homebrew software? it is pointless as they let you do it for free anyway, just download the XNA studio for the 360. The only purpose of the mod is backup/pirated games and NO the mod to the rom firmware does not suddenly permit homebrew disks, the disks still need to be signed they just don't need to be authentic.

    15. Re:Is it just me... by rickzor · · Score: 1

      Actually, you can install homebrew software, linux, flash custom firmware and many other hacks doing *basically* what he was arrested for (there are a number of variations, and as the articles don't illustrate his exact hack I dont know which one he was doing, although all of the variations are very similar.)

      modding the xbox dvd drive/firmware http://www.xbox360-hacks.com/forums/about3565.html
      installing linux on the 360 http://www.xbox360-hacks.com/forums/about2731.html

    16. Re:Is it just me... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Interesting, it's kind of like how shops won't sell you a water pipe if you refer to them as a bong.

  4. It's mine, I bought it, I can do what I want by Low+Ranked+Craig · · Score: 3, Insightful

    As long as I am not publishing their source code, or distributing their copyrighted binaries, then fuck'em.

    On the other hand, if I am publishing their source or binaries then I should expect a response, although jail time seems extreme to say the least.

    --
    I still cannot find the droids I am looking for...
    1. Re:It's mine, I bought it, I can do what I want by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      As far as I'm concerned I bought one copy of the code. I can publish that if I damm well please. I might not be able to distribute it to more than one person. But I damm well can distribute it to one person at least if I damm well please.

  5. Different situation completely by cappp · · Score: 5, Informative
    The jailbreaking finding (pdf) was narrow, specifically noting that the

    critical question is whether jailbreaking an iPhone in order to add applications to the phone constitutes a noninfringing use...

    it appears fair to say that the purpose and character of the modification of the operating system is to engage in a private, noncommercial use intended to add functionality to a device owned by the person making the modification, albeit beyond what Apple has determined to be acceptable. The user is not engaging in any commercial exploitation of the firmware, at least not when the jailbreaking is done for the user’s own private use of the device

    The Library of Congress specifically made Iphone jailbreaking permissable, for the reasons given above. As with all things legal, a specific permission isn't just instanlty transformed into general allowance to do whatever the hell you want. The Xbox was not included in the permission granted and therefore such hacking is a violation of the current statute until found otherwise in a court.

    The fact that Crippen is making money from breaking the law, and in likelyhood abetting a little casual piracy, suggests he's going to get made an example of.

    1. Re:Different situation completely by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      "general allowance to do whatever the hell you want"

      still it seems that companies is doing that by limit our right to out own stuff.

      They sold it. Not rented it to you.

    2. Re:Different situation completely by cheekyjohnson · · Score: 5, Insightful

      "and in likelyhood abetting a little casual piracy"

      Oh, no! Money that only exists in the future of an alternate dimension where the artist/business made more money was 'stolen'! This is almost as bad as that time when I decided not to buy a product from a store, thereby depriving them of profit that they could, potentially, have had!

      --
      Filthy, filthy copyrapists!
    3. Re:Different situation completely by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Look at the cute AC! He thinks consumers are real people, like corporations!

    4. Re:Different situation completely by cappp · · Score: 1

      Absolutely, but you're still not allowed to go in there and adapt the product you've bought so that you can break the law. I apologize for the awful analogy - at least it's not jerking off based - but when I buy a car I can't just rip out the seatbelts and print my personal president-killing manifesto on the body. There is an implicit social contract that dictates that my right to use an object extends only so far as that use is legal.

      In this case Crippen acted so as to violate the law. On the whole that same law seems a sensible one. If the judge decides it’s not, as they are wont to do, then than important legal benchmark will be established. If not, Crippen is in for a world of trouble.

    5. Re:Different situation completely by Jah-Wren+Ryel · · Score: 4, Insightful

      AThe Xbox was not included in the permission granted and therefore such hacking is a violation of the current statute until found otherwise in a court.

      Yes we know that. It doesn't make the hypocrisy of the law any less.

      --
      When information is power, privacy is freedom.
    6. Re:Different situation completely by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No fuck that. Laws that target specific products or people are great for societies structured around kings. Not so much for democracies where the law is supposed to apply universally for everyone. Whatever happened to generality and prospectivity or the general concept of equal protection?

      If challenged I find it difficult to see how this crap could stand.

    7. Re:Different situation completely by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      You're allowed to rip out the manufacturer-installed seatbelts and swap em for your own seatbelts as long as they pass certain safety standards. You are allowed to print your personal manifesto on the body (at least constitutionally) although I could see you being pulled over by every two-bit cop who read it to harass you about it.

      To further extend the analogy, this is like a car manufacturer saying you can only put Exxon brand gasoline in the tank, and putting in any other kind of gas constitutes an offense punishable by jail time. This guy also apparently wrote a book on how to get gas from non-compliant gas pumps into your Exxon-only tank.

      Captcha: Perish

    8. Re:Different situation completely by loufoque · · Score: 1

      The fact that Crippen is making money from breaking the law, and in likelyhood abetting a little casual piracy, suggests he's going to get made an example of.

      Replacing the software on hardware you own is not breaking the law.

    9. Re:Different situation completely by somersault · · Score: 1

      It's definitely the case that many people are too tight to buy stuff at all and therefore no sales are being lost to them, but many people still pay for pirated physical copies of DVDs and computer games. Chances are if there was no other option, they would eventually pay for the real things once they came down in price.

      I won't pay the launch price of a game these days unless I know it's very good.

      --
      which is totally what she said
    10. Re:Different situation completely by somersault · · Score: 1

      Using software designed to get around copy protection is breaking the law though.

      --
      which is totally what she said
    11. Re:Different situation completely by loufoque · · Score: 1

      Depends on the software intent. If it is for interoperability or fair use, it's legal.
      If it is made with the intent of copying copyrighted material illegally, it's not.

      At least that's how it is in France. They've successfully ruled that free software that allows to decode encrypted media is legal if this is done in the intention of playback.
      I believe that in the US, CSS (the copy protection system for DVDs) required some special exception.

    12. Re:Different situation completely by Rogerborg · · Score: 1

      So, he's been prosecuted in France? No, you say? Then what does your opinion of French law have to do with this case?

      --
      If you were blocking sigs, you wouldn't have to read this.
    13. Re:Different situation completely by loufoque · · Score: 1

      I confused this with another thread where I was highlighting it was different in Europe.

    14. Re:Different situation completely by icebraining · · Score: 1

      The only reason you can't do everything you want to your car is because when driving it you're putting other people's lives at risk. This doesn't apply to a console in any way.

    15. Re:Different situation completely by icebraining · · Score: 1

      And some people only pay after playing the game and ensuring it's good, so piracy deterrence actually loses a sale, because they'll play and pay for some other game.

      http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/apr/21/study-finds-pirates-buy-more-music

    16. Re:Different situation completely by cappp · · Score: 1

      Right, I was trying to show that there's precedent to ownership not confering absolute control. How about your house instead? You can't just add another floor if you feel like it. I'm just trying to say that as a society we accept that sometimes we have to surrender our options for some supposed good. If that good is worth it, or if it even exists, thats the question we tend to obsess over here.

    17. Re:Different situation completely by icebraining · · Score: 1

      If you think adding another floor doesn't put neighbor houses at risk, you don't know much about construction. But if you want to add another floor, you can usually get a permission from the city (or whatever), as long as they deem it safe and all. The company who sold you your house certainly doesn't get to decide.

      I'm just trying to say that as a society we accept that sometimes we have to surrender our options for some supposed good.

      That "good" was almost always safety. Specifically other people's safety (which should obviously be protected), but sometimes your own (which is more dubious but still understandable).
      But the whole DMCA anti-circumvention always are not about safety, but about giving unfair control to the device/software companies.

    18. Re:Different situation completely by ewanm89 · · Score: 1

      Corporations are real people, well the board of directors is. If a corporation commits fraud every one of the board is expected to do jail time for example.

    19. Re:Different situation completely by delinear · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Besides, the exception was granted specifically to enable certain uses with the person's device. Even though it specifically mentioned the iPhone, and even though that doesn't mean it creates a blanket rule for all other devices, courts will generally follow the precedent set down by previous courts. If the precedent is that a person is allowed to modify their device for their own use so long as the commercial aspect is not present, the courts should apply that to any device in the future (the principle being the use, not the device). The thing that might trip this guy up is the commercial asepct, if he was selling the modification it might run afoul on those grounds.

    20. Re:Different situation completely by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      But if you want to add another floor, you can usually get a permission from the city (or whatever), as long as they deem it safe and all. The company who sold you your house certainly doesn't get to decide.

      A lot of home owners associations are either run by or subordinate to the subdivision developer. You can be sure you won't be allowed to add a second story to any house governed by a HOA.

    21. Re:Different situation completely by Ash+Vince · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Oh, no! Money that only exists in the future of an alternate dimension where the artist/business made more money was 'stolen'!

      Actually the losses suffered by the copyright owner through people using illegal copies are quite real. This is because some of the people playing illegally copied games are doing so instead of buying a legitimate copy for themselves. There are also some though who would not have paid the amount asked for a legitimate copy so these are the fictitious losses you are referring to. There is some debate as to how much is which but certainly some of each is going on.

      Like it or not though, both are happening to a degree so Crippen did enable some in his actions and hence deprive poor MS of at least one copy of some crappy overpriced game.

      This is almost as bad as that time when I decided not to buy a product from a store, thereby depriving them of profit that they could, potentially, have had!

      The difference quite clearly being that in that case you left the store and deprived yourself of the enjoyment of the game. It is not the same thing if you play it anyway and then say "Screw them, I would have paid for it if it was better" after you have gained at least some enjoyment from it.

      I am not trying to say that all software piracy is evil, far from it. But there are people on both sides of the fence who are in the wrong. The companies on one side clearly overstate their losses and lobby congress to pass stupid laws for other reasons but there are also people on the other side who just do whatever they can to avoid paying for something even if they find it incredibly useful or entertaining. I am not a great fan of either camp.

      --
      I dont read /. to RTFA, I read /. to offend people in ignorance.
    22. Re:Different situation completely by jank1887 · · Score: 0

      nice try.

      Oh, no! The increased supply of a product in the marketplace in violation of current laws of copyright devalued the product according to the standard laws of supply and demand such that the potential for profit from the effort of creating that product may have been diminished.

      I didn't see any claim anywhere that they were hitting the guy up for the bazillions in lost sales that his piracy-enabling caused. But, it was copyright violation, and piracy does dilute the market and can reduce demand. Please don't act like it doesn't affect anything. Sure, when I was younger my friends and I would pool our money, buy a PC game, and then copy it amongst ourselves. We didn't buy more PC games. Might we have if not for copying them? Maybe a few. But we didn't pretend we were altruistically causing no harm.

    23. Re:Different situation completely by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Damnit. Of all the times for me NOT to have mod points handy. And you'll need the upmods, too, after the swarm of -1, Disagree mods come in to keep you quiet.

    24. Re:Different situation completely by Chaos+Incarnate · · Score: 1

      The difference quite clearly being that in that case you left the store and deprived yourself of the enjoyment of the game. It is not the same thing if you play it anyway and then say "Screw them, I would have paid for it if it was better" after you have gained at least some enjoyment from it.

      You're assuming that they did gain enjoyment from it. In this age where few games have demos, "trying" the full version for a while is often the only way to find that out.

      --
      Benford's Corollary to Clarke's Law: "Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced."
    25. Re:Different situation completely by AltairDusk · · Score: 1

      This is not a good analogy, you're comparing laws that protect life and safety to laws that prevent you from modifying your own property where the only harm is the possibility that you play something you already broke copyright law to obtain.

    26. Re:Different situation completely by AltairDusk · · Score: 1

      Using software designed to get around copy protection is breaking the law though.

      Not quite. Using software designed to get around copy protection to make a copy of something you do not own for yourself or to sell is breaking the law. Using software designed to get around copy protection to make backups of material you own is legal and within your fair use rights. Claiming the software is illegal because it enables both legal and illegal uses is a logical fallacy, that it made it into the DMCA says a lot about our lawmakers.

      Obligatory car analogy: Running over pedestrians with a car is illegal. Does this mean owning a car is illegal since it can be used to run over pedestrians? No. The act of running over pedestrians is what's illegal in this scenario. The tool (in this case a car) has many uses, it is up to you how you use and that will determine whether or not you are breaking the law.

    27. Re:Different situation completely by somersault · · Score: 1

      The point is that it's not legal, since the DMCA makes it illegal. From what I've read of it in the past, the act of circumventing copyright protection mechanisms is currently illegal, no matter the intended use. I think specific allowances have been made for stuff like iPhone jailbreaking, but not for 360 jailbreaking so far.

      It doesn't matter that the law is unjustified, right now it only matters that he broke it. There are plenty of laws that I think are silly or unjust, and I sometimes break them. But it's my own fault if I get caught doing so.

      If he can get some kind of exemption by proving that he had no intention of people using the jailbroken 360s for illegal purposes, that's great. But if he goes to jail, it's his own fault for breaking the law - especially since he was making a profit from it. I seriously doubt he expected all his customers to just be using the jailbreak for backups.

      --
      which is totally what she said
    28. Re:Different situation completely by Teancum · · Score: 1

      But if you want to add another floor, you can usually get a permission from the city (or whatever), as long as they deem it safe and all. The company who sold you your house certainly doesn't get to decide.

      A lot of home owners associations are either run by or subordinate to the subdivision developer. You can be sure you won't be allowed to add a second story to any house governed by a HOA.

      Correction.... "home-owners associations" are set up and established by developers, but it is operated by and continued to exist by the home owners themselves. It becomes in essence another layer of government for you to worry about. In theory, most HOAs can be dissolved simply by have the owners get together and dump the organization, but in practice that is unlikely to happen except by neglect.

      I technically belong to an HOA, but it has never been put together and most of the original home owners in my subdivision have since sold their homes where the subsequent owners didn't sign an HOA agreement in the purchase transaction. I'm not complaining as it was a lousy group to begin with and I may be the only HOA member left at this point... essentially I can amend an change the covenants to whatever I want at this point as the sole member of the group.

      Many HOAs, however, usually have more than a few members who do care about being in control of their "neighborhoods" and thus put some teeth into the organization. It is something to worry about, but the developer doesn't maintain control unless they also own real estate in the subdivision. Usually for liability reasons they don't want that burden any longer than it takes to get rid of all of the lots in the subdivision.

    29. Re:Different situation completely by SoTerrified · · Score: 1

      Actually the losses suffered by the copyright owner through people using illegal copies are quite real. This is because some of the people playing illegally copied games are doing so instead of buying a legitimate copy for themselves.

      Could you give me a source as to your 'fact'? My informal studies have indicated that the amount of money and profits for copyright materials such as movies and games are higher than they've ever been in the past, which would indicate that piracy is not an issue. As I know people who pirate, I asked them how many are doing so instead of buying a legit copy. Almost universally the answer was either

      1) I'm pirating to test that it will run on my machine, but I'll be buying a legit copy if it does
      2) Nah, I'm just checking it out to see what it's like. I'll put a few hours into it and then delete it. Maybe I'll buy it if it's really good.

      In other words, 1) is either buying it or not buying it, but if it doesn't run and they don't buy it, the company is avoiding customer service costs and 2) is pirating and if they are suitably impressed, they will turn into a buyer. If they were preventing from 'piracy', they would never purchase the item in question.

      The reason for this is simple. Patches, extras, downloadable content are enough of a lure that most of the people I know would rather get a legit copy. *shrug* Obviously I can only speak of what I observe, but in my informal group, piracy does not equal a lost sale. And I think the power that be are looking at their record profits and realizing that too. But the threat of 'piracy' is very useful to get favorable copyright laws passed, so they keep claiming the sky is falling.

    30. Re:Different situation completely by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      So let me get this straight, first you go on about it, explaining to us that, Yes Dorothy, there are actually people who would have paid for something but they infringed!

      Then we get to the part that I found entertaining.

      "The companies on one side clearly overstate their losses and lobby congress to pass stupid laws for other reasons but there are also people on the other side who just do whatever they can to avoid paying for something even if they find it incredibly useful or entertaining. I am not a great fan of either camp.

      Personally, I am a major fan of the second camp. Why aren't you? The first camp controls the very laws of the country, lobbies for em, writes em and gets what they want. So what about the other side? By their doing whatever they can to avoid paying, they have created new liberties for the rest of us. These are not the people who are making money off of media as marketing, as tie-in merchandising or as movie rights. These are the same people who live all around us making life better by ensuring that you can still rip your mother fucking DVD collection to your computer.

      When the laws of the land are unjust and broken than truly only outlaws see to the protection of basic rights (i.e. right to mess with stuff you bought).

      Your argument comes to down to suggesting that we let these fucks ram it down our throats and beg for another. If they wanna sell me something fine, but don't sell me something and then get up in my shit fucking with its functionality. My house is my castle and I'm the fucking king here.

      What really galls me is games like MINECRAFT!!!! PRINT MONEY!!! AND YOU CAN PIRATE IT ALL DAY.

      Your ambivalence if fascist bullshit.

    31. Re:Different situation completely by spiffmastercow · · Score: 1

      And who does time if a corporation commits murder?

    32. Re:Different situation completely by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It doesn't mention the iphone. it mentions "wireless telephone handsets" which is broader than the iphone but does not include an xbox.

    33. Re:Different situation completely by interkin3tic · · Score: 1

      You mean the iphone was a completely different case -legally-.

      In the sane world though, no, there is no real significant difference when it comes to modifying the devices you have purchased. And I think that's what the summary was suggesting. It's not as if jailbreaking your iphone is fine, but jailbreaking your xbox will kill children. Piracy can be done with both and is not a good reason.

    34. Re:Different situation completely by Hatta · · Score: 1

      Actually the losses suffered by the copyright owner through people using illegal copies are quite real. This is because some of the people playing illegally copied games are doing so instead of buying a legitimate copy for themselves.

      Only if you ignore the people who would not have bought a copy until they played a pirated copy. Since the biggest pirates are also your biggest customers you can't crack down on one without cracking down on the other.

      --
      Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
    35. Re:Different situation completely by i.am.delf · · Score: 1

      You assume that if piracy was impossible, that those who would pirate would buy. This isn't the case. The lost revenue to piracy stats are hopelessly inflated.

    36. Re:Different situation completely by Dare+nMc · · Score: 1

      some of the people playing illegally copied games are doing so instead of buying a legitimate copy

      Yes and some people who would never have bought that game will pirate, and then like the game, and then either buy a copy to safely play it online, or buy/receive updates, tell friends about the game who buy it... I know I had no interest in the xbox/games, but liked the challenge of the mod chip/xbmc, and bought one, hacked up games, played them twice, relatives heard I liked them and bought me the later versions, which I played once. Similar with directTV, had no interest in anything more than OTA. But when I could hack it and get all channels, I did. Now I have been purchasing DTV for the last 10 years, with Pay channels to boot, turned out after a taste, that I learned it was worth it to me (oh, and I have more disposable income now as well.)
      Similar with AutoCAD, my dad had his work purchase every update as long as he could take a copy home, once they stopped that with DRM, he didn't need any updates for work, couldn't pirate a copy for home, no longer requested.

    37. Re:Different situation completely by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In this age where few games have demos

      I assume you are somehow posting from 1990? Well prepare yourself for a shock, Encino Man: Even console games have demos these days.

    38. Re:Different situation completely by Ash+Vince · · Score: 1

      Could you give me a source as to your 'fact'? My informal studies have indicated that the amount of money and profits for copyright materials such as movies and games are higher than they've ever been in the past, which would indicate that piracy is not an issue. As I know people who pirate, I asked them how many are doing so instead of buying a legit copy. Almost universally the answer was either

      1) I'm pirating to test that it will run on my machine, but I'll be buying a legit copy if it does
      2) Nah, I'm just checking it out to see what it's like. I'll put a few hours into it and then delete it. Maybe I'll buy it if it's really good.

      In other words, 1) is either buying it or not buying it, but if it doesn't run and they don't buy it, the company is avoiding customer service costs and 2) is pirating and if they are suitably impressed, they will turn into a buyer. If they were preventing from 'piracy', they would never purchase the item in question.

      I am not disputing that many people are like this, but I am saying that not everyone is like this.

      There are some people who just refuse to pay for whatever they can and justify it to themselves morally by any tenuous argument they can come up with.

      I would be interested to know how many people were in the 2nd option but still completed the game in your little study. These people are the ones I would count as the guys who should have made the buy it / leave it choice much sooner so were in fact just freeloaders justifying it to themselves any way they could.

      --
      I dont read /. to RTFA, I read /. to offend people in ignorance.
    39. Re:Different situation completely by UnknownSoldier · · Score: 1

      > Actually the losses suffered by the copyright owner through people using illegal copies are quite real.

      Not to belittle your point, but show me _one_ company that actually _lists_ these loses due to piracy on its balance sheet. Until then, they are just that, fictitious losses.

    40. Re:Different situation completely by Ash+Vince · · Score: 1

      Only if you ignore the people who would not have bought a copy until they played a pirated copy. Since the biggest pirates are also your biggest customers you can't crack down on one without cracking down on the other.

      Interesting argument, but I think the number of people who fall in to this camp are fare fewer than the number of people in the "avoid paying for anything at all costs" camp that I was describing. You obviously have a better view of human nature than I do and neither of us have any figures to back either argument up.

      --
      I dont read /. to RTFA, I read /. to offend people in ignorance.
    41. Re:Different situation completely by Ash+Vince · · Score: 1

      You assume that if piracy was impossible, that those who would pirate would buy. This isn't the case.

      No, I assume that if piracy was impossible then a few extra people would buy, not all the people who pirate. But those few extra sales are lost revenue. This is far less lost revenue than the companies claim but it is still an amount greater than zero. So by enabling people to jailbreak he did cost MS some revenue, it is just argument about how much. Some poeple seem to think it is zero and that is certainly not the case.

      The lost revenue to piracy stats are hopelessly inflated.

      I agree that the stats are hopelessly inflated, and I even said so in my post.

      --
      I dont read /. to RTFA, I read /. to offend people in ignorance.
    42. Re:Different situation completely by uniquename72 · · Score: 1

      Source? (Honestly, is there any case where that has happened?)

    43. Re:Different situation completely by Hatta · · Score: 1

      Oh, no no, I don't have a good view of human nature at all. People are inherently selfish and it is not despite this, but *because* of this that the biggest file sharers are the biggest customers (a statement which, btw, is supported with data.

      People who really love a certain band, are the most likely to go out and download the bands entire discography for free. But they are also the group who would be most affected if that band went out of business. So they make a self-interested decision to buy the new album and keep the band working.

      On the other hand, people who just want something for free, just want something for free. If that band went away, they'd just download someone elses albums instead. This group is irrelevant since they cannot be converted into purchases, there are no losses from this group.

      --
      Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
    44. Re:Different situation completely by sjames · · Score: 1

      Actually, yes you can rip out the seatbelts and print your own president-killing manifesto on the body! Note that in some places you will be fined for not wearing a seatbelt if you drive it anywhere but on your own property. You will also be in trouble if you attempt to implement your manifesto or urge others to do so.

      I'm not just nit-picking the analogy, I'm applying it. There are non-infringing uses of the car modifications.

    45. Re:Different situation completely by elrous0 · · Score: 1

      Yes, and it will be a rough year in prison for them. They'll have to sleep on the rough mattress of a minimum security prison, their only comfort being the knowledge that they have billions of $ waiting for them to live like kings when they get out.

      --
      SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
    46. Re:Different situation completely by Ash+Vince · · Score: 1

      People who really love a certain band, are the most likely to go out and download the bands entire discography for free. But they are also the group who would be most affected if that band went out of business. So they make a self-interested decision to buy the new album and keep the band working.

      Only if they think that will happen. There are a great many people out there who think this will never happen since other people will carry on buying their favorites bands albums. Providing other people are doing the paying, they will always be able to download it for free. Like it or not there are people who fall into this camp.

      That is why I call them freeloaders. They are not interested in what would happen if everyone did what they do. They are only interested in themselves and know that while other people pay to support their band they will reap the rewards.

      These are the core of people we need laws to address since that is the only way to stop them doing what they like. Or we can simply resign ourselves to buying these people their music since it is too much effort to get the to cough up.

      --
      I dont read /. to RTFA, I read /. to offend people in ignorance.
    47. Re:Different situation completely by dwandy · · Score: 1

      Actually the losses suffered by the copyright owner through people using illegal copies are quite real. This is because some of the people playing illegally copied games are doing so instead of buying a legitimate copy for themselves.

      I'm sorry, that is false. You're missing an essential component of the equation. And I can't include people who would not have paid 100% as there is no mechanism for paying anything other than 100%: in the absence of an illegal copy those people would have done without and are therefore 0% loss. Ferrari isn't losing any sales to me.

      The correct calculation would be: Delta (not loss!) = "Nbr of People who bought for some illegal copy related reason" - "Nbr of people who would have paid 100%, but illegally copied it instead"
      This number could be positive (ie; 'illegal' sharing causes an increase in sales) as can be seen here.

      From how I've always seen the numbers, there is (always?) a positive correlation between sharing and sales. While there will be argument about causation I would suggest that (at least) in the above example there is clear cause and effect.

      Of course ultimately this is a business model question: Can we get content w/o charging on a per-copy basis. While it is easy to say that we had creative expression predating copyright; others reply that it was a different era. To those, I would suggest that the open source movement is a strong indicator that even today there are other ways for creative efforts to be compensated without the need for per copy charges.
      Once that is resolved the rest of the discussion becomes somewhat moot.

      --
      If you think imaginary property and real property are the same, when does your house become public domain?
    48. Re:Different situation completely by Hatta · · Score: 1

      These are the core of people we need laws to address since that is the only way to stop them doing what they like.

      That's a big assumption there. What makes you think that laws can actually stop people from pirating? If laws can't keep drugs out of a locked down maximum security prison, what chance do they have of keeping pirated mp3s out of every teenagers bedroom in the country?

      Or we can simply resign ourselves to buying these people their music since it is too much effort to get the to cough up.

      That's pretty much the only option. I am willing to pay a certain amount for entertainment I like, whether or not I have to. Millions of other people are also willing to do that. All that adds up, so music and movies would still be made in a copyright free society. That the music I bought is available to everyone else in the world for free isn't an issue, because I pay what the music is worth to me. If that's not enough to keep production going, that's the free market at work.

      --
      Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
    49. Re:Different situation completely by CannonballHead · · Score: 1

      You're making a bad analogy. In this case, you ARE receiving the product, in this case illegally, and thus not buying it from the store.

      It's not like you're actually "going without." You're going "with" and not paying. And, just in case someone tells me this isn't theft of a real item, I wasn't the one who made the analogy ;)

      To me, this is more like someone using someone's rental property without permission and without paying. You're using/gaining/whatever from something that you don't have permission to use/gain/play/download/whatever. You may not be ultimately costing them money, you may leave the place better than you found it, but you're still not paying.

      Whether or not it should be legal or illegal is one thing. Whether or not is IS legal or illegal is quite another. And the terms used don't make it legal or not legal, do they? In ordinary discussions, people would say "oh stop with the semantics already." Somehow, the "piracy" thing is given special treatment, where semantics are used to make a case for something somehow being legal or at least morally upstanding/ethically okay/even "good," even though it's clearly illegal according to current law.

      Incidentally, this is also a curious place where we don't want to have different laws for digital stuff. That doesn't occur with all somewhat-analogous digital things... e.g., stealing information. We want companies to be liable for information they shouldn't be keeping, whether they got it from a physical camera taking a picture of me holding up my credit card or whether they got it from intercepting a packet. Well, clearly, those aren't the same - one's digital, one is physical - but we seem to want to think of them in the same way. When it comes to physical goods vs. digital "goods," we want to separate them and say it's ok to take digital media without paying for it, and not okay to take physical media without paying for it.

      Interestingly enough, the price put on physical media was never simply the cost to produce the physical media, there was always profit in there. CDs didn't cost the amount it takes to burn, label, and package a CD.

      Summary: we're hypocritical and cheap. :)

    50. Re:Different situation completely by Ash+Vince · · Score: 1

      Of course ultimately this is a business model question: Can we get content w/o charging on a per-copy basis. While it is easy to say that we had creative expression predating copyright; others reply that it was a different era. To those, I would suggest that the open source movement is a strong indicator that even today there are other ways for creative efforts to be compensated without the need for per copy charges.

      It is worth remembering though that the open source movement depends on copyright laws. It relies on a licence that is only enforceable if the people who create open source software also hold the copyright.

      If we do away with copyright or allow too many people to ride roughshod over it then companies might start doing the same.

      --
      I dont read /. to RTFA, I read /. to offend people in ignorance.
    51. Re:Different situation completely by dwandy · · Score: 1

      It is worth remembering though that the open source movement depends on copyright laws.

      How does BSD depend on copyright?
      I'd still suggest that at most the Publishing/Distribution industries need some sort of monopoly protection. And they are simply discovering that the service they offer has been replaced by the Internet.
      The sooner the notion of creating artificial scarcity goes away the better off we will all* be.

      *ok, except the now mostly redundant distribution companies... but they'll get over it.

      --
      If you think imaginary property and real property are the same, when does your house become public domain?
    52. Re:Different situation completely by bws111 · · Score: 1

      Well, it is not the board of directors who goes to jail necessarily, it is who committed the fraud. Ever hear of Enron (CEO - 24 years, CFO - 6 years)? WorldCom (CEO - 25 years)? Bernie Madoff (150 years)?

    53. Re:Different situation completely by bws111 · · Score: 1

      How exactly can a corporation commit murder? If individuals in a corporation commit murder, they are punished just like everyone else.

    54. Re:Different situation completely by drcheap · · Score: 1

      The user is not engaging in any commercial exploitation of the firmware, at least not when the jailbreaking is done for the user’s own private use of the device

      The fact that Crippen is making money from breaking the law, and in likelyhood abetting a little casual piracy, suggests he's going to get made an example of.

      And that's just it. They don't care (or at least not enough to litigate) if you do it for private use, it's when you start making money that it becomes a problem.

      Unlike the intangible claims from the BSA about the "costs" of piracy, this is the case where there actually are people willing to pay (well, maybe not MSRP, but more than $0 at least) for some software. That's when BigGameCorp starts to lose (read: not receive) revenue.

    55. Re:Different situation completely by Chowderbags · · Score: 1

      Heck, what about option 3:

      The game is out of print, and in licensing hell. It will never be distributed again, and if it is, not one cent will end up in the hands of anyone who had anything to do with the original game. Hell, maybe the game is distributed, but not in your region, because it "doesn't fit the demographics" (I hear Australia gets this a lot, but really, Japan has kept a lot of really cool games from even the US over the years). So what's the option here? If a title isn't profitable enough to sell, should we feel bad about not buying it (and when they start selling it, would they please not gauge us into paying $5 for 10+ year old games?).

    56. Re:Different situation completely by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      He has a very strange definition of real. Something like: "a thing that I believe".

    57. Re:Different situation completely by spiffmastercow · · Score: 1

      Hrm, I dunno.. Maybe by mixing toxic chemicals into baby formula? The Chineese killed the top dude.. But do you really think the US would do the same?

    58. Re:Different situation completely by cheekyjohnson · · Score: 1

      "In this case, you ARE receiving the product"

      By copying data. Apparently you didn't understand my point. How does this hurt them? Don't say "potential profit," either. Permission has absolutely nothing to do with it. How does it hurt them if I copy data without their permission?

      "To me, this is more like someone using someone's rental property without permission and without paying"

      No, because in that example, you're depriving them of physical goods (unlike when pirates copy data, thereby depriving no one of anything), even if it is only for a short time. In that time period, they were unable to use their own property. Actual harm was done in that example.

      "Whether or not is IS legal or illegal is quite another"

      What does this have to do with anything? Clearly I'm arguing that piracy should be legal. Some laws must be broken before they are changed.

      "we want to separate them and say it's ok to take digital media"

      How hard is it to understand that you're not taking anything?

      "and not okay to take physical media without paying for it."

      That's because that does ACTUAL harm to someone by DEPRIVING them of a good that is not in infinite supply. No one copied anything in that example, they deprived someone of something physical.

      --
      Filthy, filthy copyrapists!
    59. Re:Different situation completely by cheekyjohnson · · Score: 1

      "But, it was copyright violation"

      That wasn't my point. My point is that these copyright laws are idiotic in the first place.

      "Might we have if not for copying them?"

      Did you even read my comment? When I decide not to buy a product from a store, I am 'stealing' profit that the store could, potentially, have had. Would the store have had more money if I had bought the product? Yes. Therefore, "potential profit" was stolen.

      Imagine someone that just bought a product from a store goes and tells their friends (who were originally going to buy the product) that they should not buy the product for whatever reason. Hearing this, that persons friends decide not to buy the product. They would have bought the product otherwise. Therefore, "potential profit" was lost.

      What you don't realize is that absolutely everyone is 'guilty' of 'stealing' profit that others could, potentially, have had. It is impossible to do harm like this.

      --
      Filthy, filthy copyrapists!
    60. Re:Different situation completely by cheekyjohnson · · Score: 1

      As usual, you didn't understand my argument.

      "Actually the losses suffered by the copyright owner through people using illegal copies are quite real."

      So are people who decide not to buy a product from a store.

      "The difference quite clearly being that in that case you left the store and deprived yourself of the enjoyment of the game"

      The enjoyment you got out of the game has absolutely nothing to do with harm inflicted upon the business.

      "Imagine someone that just bought a product from a store goes and tells their friends (who were originally going to buy the product) that they should not buy the product for whatever reason. Hearing this, that persons friends decide not to buy the product. They would have bought the product otherwise. Therefore, "potential profit" was lost."

      Absolutely everyone is 'guilty' of 'stealing' profit that others could, potentially, have had. To say this harms someone in the first place is absurd.

      --
      Filthy, filthy copyrapists!
  6. I bought it; it's mine. by deweyhewson · · Score: 5, Insightful

    As far as I'm considered, when I buy something (phone, game console, computer, whatever) it's mine to do with as I please.

    Whether I want to modify it, or throw it off a cliff, is no longer any of the company's business. That's not to say it excuses piracy (which is an entirely separate matter altogether), but put simply, they have my money, and I have their product. Our relationship should there be at an end.

    I really don't care what the lobbyist-bought-and-paid-for law says on the matter.

    1. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by cheekyjohnson · · Score: 3, Interesting

      "As far as I'm considered, when I buy something (phone, game console, computer, whatever) it's mine to do with as I please."

      People with money and an interest in these devices appear to disagree. No matter how wrong they are, I wonder who will be the one who is listened to...

      "That's not to say it excuses piracy"

      Not that reason alone, no. Logic does that.

      "I really don't care what the lobbyist-bought-and-paid-for law says on the matter."

      Really? Well, that won't stop these corporate tools from caring about you and attempting to doom you to the same fate as this guy.

      --
      Filthy, filthy copyrapists!
    2. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by mykos · · Score: 5, Insightful

      As far as I'm considered, when I buy something (phone, game console, computer, whatever) it's mine to do with as I please. Whether I want to modify it, or throw it off a cliff, is no longer any of the company's business. That's not to say it excuses piracy (which is an entirely separate matter altogether), but put simply, they have my money, and I have their product. Our relationship should there be at an end. I really don't care what the lobbyist-bought-and-paid-for law says on the matter.

      Exactly. If they didn't want you to own it, they shouldn't have sold it to you.

      And it is simply horrifying that a person can go to a very real prison for tinkering with some zeroes and ones a perfectly legal piece of electronics without harming anyone.

    3. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by im_thatoneguy · · Score: 1

      If you want to wipe the hard drive and start from scratch then I bet the court would agree. In this case jail breaking an Xbox 360 is probably to run the OS in a state to circumvent copy protection.

    4. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by RyuuzakiTetsuya · · Score: 1

      Right, but you don't have the right to charge money to install chips into someone else's device. There's all sorts of legal precedent for that from cars to guns to any number of other items you're prohibited from doing. That's why he went to jail.

      --
      Non impediti ratione cogitationus.
    5. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by Nursie · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Errr....

      Sure you can charge money for aftermarket addons for cars!

      Or were you thinking of things like reflashing car firmware to remove speed limiters and the like?

    6. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by RyuuzakiTetsuya · · Score: 1

      straight pipes, actually. don't know if electronic limiters are illegal to remove.

      --
      Non impediti ratione cogitationus.
    7. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by tftp · · Score: 2, Insightful

      you don't have the right to charge money to install chips into someone else's device.

      That alone, so broadly worded, is not illegal if that 'someone else' owns the device. There are thousands of electronics technicians in the USA (and far more in China) who do this for a living.

      On the other hand, it may be against the law for you to use (or even own) a modified device. But even with guns the legal situation is not that obvious. In any case it's a legal minefield.

    8. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by Khyber · · Score: 3, Informative

      "Right, but you don't have the right to charge money to install chips into someone else's device."

      Excuse me? Car Tuning shops do it ALL THE TIME.

      Ever hear of a PERFORMANCE CHIP UPGRADE?

      --
      Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.
    9. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by Mista2 · · Score: 1

      Licences for this stuff will end up being, that you own the hardware, but only a licence to use one copy of the software that does not belong to you, and can only run it without modification.

    10. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by somersault · · Score: 0

      they have my money, and I have their product. Our relationship should there be at an end.

      So you don't want driver or firmware updates? You don't want access to the Apple Store or Xbox Live? Fair enough.

      I'm pretty sure that's how things already work though. You can do what you want with the hardware, but don't expect to get their services any more if you've broken their terms.

      --
      which is totally what she said
    11. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by bunbuntheminilop · · Score: 1

      You bought it knowing it was protected, and you probably agreed to a terms/conditions saying you wouldn't break the protection. If you want to do as you please, you're free to buy a less protected console.

    12. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by somersault · · Score: 1

      Microsoft aren't going to be very upset if you do some case mods to your 360. Not exactly very analogous to customising your device's firmware.

      Remapping your ECU or swapping in a bigger engine will void your warranty and could put you over legal emissions limits depending on what you do (but it is fun!). Very similar to installing custom firmware.

      --
      which is totally what she said
    13. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by Ciggy · · Score: 1

      ...they have my money, and I have their product. Our relationship should there be at an end.

      So you're happy that:

      • the product is not fit for purpose which you discover only after getting it home;
      • the product fails to work soon after getting it home

      and you have no recourse to get them to fix it as your relationship with them has ended now that they have your money and you have their product?

      --

      A rose by any other name would smell as sweet;
      A chrysanthemum by any other name would be easier to spell
    14. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by somersault · · Score: 1

      Try and claim a new engine under warranty if you blow your engine after doing a "PERFORMANCE CHIP UPGRADE". I don't think the manufacturer will be very willing to help you out. When you make modifications to your car on that level it invalidates your engine warranty, same as modding your Xbox will get your cut off from Xbox Live. I'm not saying you shouldn't do this, I've had it done on one of my cars. I'm just pointing out how manufacturers do not approve of third party modifications.

      You are allowed to modify hardware if you want, just don't go crying if you get busted for installing a mod to get around copyright, or if the manufacturer refuses to serve you further.

      --
      which is totally what she said
    15. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by icebraining · · Score: 1

      Yes, but losing your warranty is not quite the same as facing jail time...

    16. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by f3rret · · Score: 1

      As I understand it this mod to the Xbox360 consists of a chip soldered onto the motherboard (that is the correct term for a console right?) and simply prevents a signal from whatever is doing the copy-protection from getting to the OS (well either that or it just sends the same "all ok"-signal every time).

      It does not sound like they are altering the software at all, which would mean that they are not in violation of the software license.
      It's like Windows, you can't mess around with the proprietary code in it, but if you wanted to install a hardware mod that made it so that windows thought a sound card was a graphics card (I don't know why you would do this, but I couldn't think of anything better) you can do whatever you want, since the hardware in your PC is not covered under the Windows EULA.

      --
      Admit nothing. Deny Everything. Make Counter-accusations.
    17. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by f3rret · · Score: 1

      Right, but you don't have the right to charge money to install chips into someone else's device. There's all sorts of legal precedent for that from cars to guns to any number of other items you're prohibited from doing. That's why he went to jail.

      Modifying cars and guns are covered by special regulations since any modifications done to those particular things could result in damage to property or persons.
      That is to say a gun could blow up and a car could crash if you install unsupported upgrades to them. Worst that might happen if you mod your console is that the manufacturer will decide to roll out an upgrade that bricks modded hardware, you are still not endangering yourself of those around you (well you might be if you're one of those angry console kids that I keep seeing on YouTube)

      --
      Admit nothing. Deny Everything. Make Counter-accusations.
    18. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by Ciggy · · Score: 1

      ...since the hardware in your PC is not covered under the Windows EULA.

      You sure? Activation of Windows would disagree with you on that point as if it sees your hardware modified (past some extent of which I'm not privvy as I do not use Windows) it tells you to reactivate it (or so I'm informed).

      --

      A rose by any other name would smell as sweet;
      A chrysanthemum by any other name would be easier to spell
    19. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by delinear · · Score: 1

      And in that way it's entirely the same as jailbreaking your iPhone. Circumventing copy protection doesn't automatically mean you're doing so to breech copyright - sometimes it's a necessary measure to let you use the device you own to its full potential. The courts have already ruled this is acceptable behaviour.

    20. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by delinear · · Score: 1

      This is not about a company refusing to honour a warranty where the hardware is modified. This is about someone losing their liberty. I think it's more than fair that a company says "we support only this product in this particular state of being, if you modify it beyond that you're on your own", but jail time for a modification to a piece of private property that hurts nobody, seriously?

    21. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by delinear · · Score: 1

      If you wanted to prevent me modifying the console, don't sell it to me, instead make it clear at the point of sale that I'm actually only renting it so I am free to go actually buy a console from someone else. This is a fun game, isn't it?

    22. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by nschubach · · Score: 1

      But you CAN buy straight pipes and install them... just hope you don't get inspected.

      They aren't putting manufacturers of exhaust pipes in jail for producing an item that allows you to break the law.

      --
      Every time I start to have faith in humanity, I ruin it by driving to work between 7 and 8 am.
    23. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by geekmux · · Score: 1

      As far as I'm considered, when I buy something (phone, game console, computer, whatever) it's mine to do with as I please. Whether I want to modify it, or throw it off a cliff, is no longer any of the company's business. That's not to say it excuses piracy (which is an entirely separate matter altogether), but put simply, they have my money, and I have their product. Our relationship should there be at an end.

      And your mentality is perfectly acceptable as long as you don't need support from said vendor...like ever.

      Point is signing a 2-year contract for cellular service is hardly a "relationship" that simply "ends" once you have the hardware in your hands. As far as I'm concerned, you have every right to tinker with hardware that you own just as much as vendors have every right to refuse any form of support once you do.

      And let's be honest here. Most of the "tinkering" going on these days leads to some form of piracy on the device, regardless if that was the original intent of the tinkering or not.

    24. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by Jaysyn · · Score: 1

      And if you run a completely different set of software on it?

      --
      There is a war going on for your mind.
    25. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by zippthorne · · Score: 1

      There's nothing illegal with adding straight pipes to your car or bike. The illegal part comes later, when you attempt to drive your new yard sculpture on the public highways. But that yard sculpture would've been illegal to drive on public roads even if the manufacturers had built it with straight pipes. Also, you're a douche for even wanting them.

      Of course, if you install them on a rental car, or on someone else's vehicle without their permission, then you might be talking about the actual installation being illegal.

      --
      Can you be Even More Awesome?!
    26. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by orasio · · Score: 1

      Right, but you don't have the right to charge money to install chips into someone else's device. There's all sorts of legal precedent for that from cars to guns to any number of other items you're prohibited from doing. That's why he went to jail.

      It's not the same. We are not talking about safety regulations here.
      A chipped console is not a risk to other people, or yourself, no matter how you put it. The guy went to jail, because some people are _that_ powerful.

    27. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by orasio · · Score: 1

      You are allowed to modify hardware if you want, just don't go crying if you get busted for installing a mod to get around copyright, or if the manufacturer refuses to serve you further.

      Fair enough, in some cases.
      The problem here is the blurring of the lines between what the seller wants, and the law.
      It's their right to void warranties for some aftermarket modifications. It's OK to get in trouble with the law for selling modifications that affect safety regulations, esp. if others lives are put in jeopardy.
      It's not reasonable to put someone in jail for selling jailbreaks, no matter how you put it. It could even be a little more reasonable if there were any public property involved, like airwaves or something like this. But jailing someone because he sells something that _could_ potentially be used in order to not buy stuff from one company, even though it might be used for other purposes, is not a good spending of taxpayer dollars.
      I only use the financial argument because we are talking about the US. Of course it's also ridiculous from a human rights perspective.

    28. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by filthpickle · · Score: 1

      That's why the SLIC table in the BIOS activation crack is the only way to go. I worked on someone's machine that had a legit copy of win7 and still cracked it so it wouldn't ask about activation again.

      is there a loophole in the law for circumventing copyright to avoid future support calls?

    29. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by filthpickle · · Score: 1

      I do not agree with what is happening to this guy...but the catch here is that he made money (whatever the amount was).

      They are saying "we support only this product in this particular state of being, if you modify it beyond that you're on your own, if you charge other people to modify theirs...we are going to have a problem with that.". I don't agree with that, but if the guy wasn't profiting, this probably wouldn't be a story.

      Yes guys....the warez are all here....and it's all free.....DO NOT TRY TO MAKE MONEY OFF IT.

    30. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by RyuuzakiTetsuya · · Score: 1

      That alone, so broadly worded, is not illegal if that 'someone else' owns the device. There are thousands of electronics technicians in the USA (and far more in China) who do this for a living.

      If someone gives you money to install a modchip or JTAG your Xbox 360, that's distribution of circumvention devices. It is highly illegal.

      --
      Non impediti ratione cogitationus.
    31. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by AltairDusk · · Score: 1

      Remapping your ECU or swapping in a bigger engine will void your warranty and could put you over legal emissions limits depending on what you do (but it is fun!). Very similar to installing custom firmware.

      But it's perfectly legal to do so and the performance shop that does the work isn't going to be sued for it...

    32. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by AltairDusk · · Score: 1

      This isn't about losing your warranty or access to Live, this is about someone being prosecuted for installing mod chips. This would be analogous to your car manufacturer having the performance shop that installed your performance chip upgrade arrested and prosecuting them.

    33. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by DavidTC · · Score: 1

      Indeed, every single analogy here with people listing 'what you can't do with your property' is about stuff that's illegal, and you can't do it all, whether or not it's your property and whether or you have permission from the manufacturer.

      You can't buy a gun and kill people with it, but that's not a restriction manufacturers have placed on guns!

      Can anyone, anywhere, name a product that you purchase but the people who sold it to you (not the law, the people who sold it to you) are in charge of what you do with it afterwards and can have you arrested for doing stuff they don't like?

      The closest thing I can think of are homeowner's associations...but you actually sign a contract with them, an actual, real life contract, when you purchase your home.

      No, normal copyright doesn't count. Copying things is illegal unless you have permission of the 'manufacturer', which is not the same as the manufacturer magically outlawing it themselves. And, again, it's illegal in general, not for the purchaser.

      We've somehow managed to extend copyright into 'soldering a chip to hardware', despite the fact that can't be used for copying at all. (Seriously, it's an XBox. It can't make copies.)

      --
      If corporations are people, aren't stockholders guilty of slavery?
    34. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by DavidTC · · Score: 1

      Excect MS claims one is illegal, whereas the manufacturer of your car doesn't give a damn what you do to it. (The government, OTOH, does.)

      --
      If corporations are people, aren't stockholders guilty of slavery?
    35. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by essjaytee · · Score: 0

      But the sale of "straight pipes" is not illegal. Only the operation of the subsequently modified vehicle on public roads is unlawful. Believe me I see plenty of cars at the track every weekend running "straight pipes" (or the complete absense of anything resembling a 'legal' exhaust)

      Hence the reason why every aftermarket catless exhaust is listed as "for off-road use only."

      -S

    36. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by somersault · · Score: 1

      Yeah I probably should have replied to the OP, my post was a little offtopic by that point.

      Nevertheless, you're breaking the DMCA when you circumvent copyright protection measures. It's legal to tune an ECU, but there are only a few cases so far where breaking the DMCA has been declared legal. It doesn't matter if he was being paid by someone else to do it, he was performing an illegal act.

      --
      which is totally what she said
    37. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by somersault · · Score: 1

      I don't think it's MS's fault that it's illegal, it's the WIPO that advocated it. What he did is definitely illegal in the US anyway.

      Note that I think the DCMA is stupid, but the fact remains that this guy broke the law.

      --
      which is totally what she said
    38. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You can do whatever you want with your hardware. There is nothing illegal about it. There is nothing Microsoft can do about it. You own it. HOWEVER, you can not do whatever you want with the SOFTWARE (including firmware). You do not own that, you license it. Once you have modified your Xbox it is no longer an Xbox, it is a modified Xbox. If the software (firmware, games) is not licensed for use on modified Xboxes, then you are violating copyright by loading that software into RAM (which, under copyright law, is making a copy).

    39. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by bws111 · · Score: 1

      Modifying your Xbox is not illegal, and Microsoft does not claim it is. Running Microsoft's SOFTWARE on your modified Xbox is a copyright violation however, because you have made a copy (into RAM) without permission (Microsoft does not license their software to run on modified Xboxes). You can modify your Xbox all you want, just don't run their firmware or games (or games from anyone else that only licenses them for Xbox).

    40. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Is there really a car analogy for everything?

    41. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by RavenChild · · Score: 1

      Yes, for instance, if you have a ton of dirt to move, you get a dump truck.
      If you want to go fast, you get a sports car.

    42. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by Arker · · Score: 1

      Licenses are irrelevant to the normal case, no matter how much stank wind comes from the copyright lobbies asserting otherwise. A license is required under law in order to distribute a work, not in order to make normal use of a particular instance of that work which you have lawfully obtained. For example, I have a Jan Gillou novel sitting on my desk at the moment. I would need a license from the copyright holder to start making copies and distributing them (whether for profit or as a give-away) or to do the same with a work derived from that novel. I do not, however, need any license to read the book, to write in the margins or otherwise alter it for my own use, to sell my copy, to loan it to a friend, etc. Similarly with software, once I buy that disk it is mine and since the uses I intend to put it to do not include redistribution, I have no need to accept any purported license that the manufacturer attempts to impose after sale. Just like the book, it's mine and I have every right to do whatever I desire with it, subject only to the limitations of copyright law.

      --
      =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
      Friends don't let friends enable ecmascript.
    43. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by DavidTC · · Score: 1

      You do not need permission to copy software into RAM.

      There is an explicit exemption in copyright law for making in-memory and even on-disk copies required to run software.

      --
      If corporations are people, aren't stockholders guilty of slavery?
    44. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by DavidTC · · Score: 1

      Under copyright law, copying programs into memory to use them, while 'making a copy', is not violating copyright.

      Jesus Christ, you're the second idiot who's internalized the justification for EULA from 1985 or whenever and replies to my posts.

      Read the goddamn law:

      (a) Making of Additional Copy or Adaptation by Owner of Copy. — Notwithstanding the provisions of section 106, it is not an infringement for the owner of a copy of a computer program to make or authorize the making of another copy or adaptation of that computer program provided:
      (1) that such a new copy or adaptation is created as an essential step in the utilization of the computer program in conjunction with a machine and that it is used in no other manner, or

      Not only can you copy into memory, but you an copy onto disk, you can copy software where the hell you need to copy in order run the software.

      Wow, look at that. How does it feel, knowing you're repeating deliberate lies intended to screw people out of something copyright law allows?

      --
      If corporations are people, aren't stockholders guilty of slavery?
    45. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by e4g4 · · Score: 1

      He's not getting in trouble for modding his own devices. He's in trouble for selling the service of modding other people's devices to run any code whatsoever, including pirated/backup games. If I offer a similar service for, say, satellite receivers that allowed one to decrypt every stream coming down from the bird, would anyone be surprised/angered if I/my business were treated the same way?

      Admittedly, in this case, the line is less clear, as modding the XBox does allow one to add functionality to the device without infringing on any copyright, while at the same time making it trivial to pirate xbox games. Is jail time a reasonable punishment for providing this service? I don't think so. Is Microsoft being evil and unreasonable for trying to shut down this guy's business (and, by extension, others' comparable businesses)? Again, I don't think so. They're not really going about it the right way; but they're doing what a corporation does - attempting to protect their bottom line, which in the XBox case means making sure that people still pay the Microsoft tax on games they play on their XBox.

      --
      The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources. - Albert Einstein
    46. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by Schadrach · · Score: 1

      So we need to take all those performance shops to court as well, since they modify cars in ways outside the warranty, and they certainly charge you for installing a performance chip. "With a computer" should not change the law.

    47. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by bws111 · · Score: 1

      You don't need permission to copy software into RAM if you have a valid license and are using the software under the terms of the license. This prevents a copyright holder from basically terminating an otherwise valid license by claiming you are violating copyright by running the program. However, several courts have ruled that if the license is being violated, then copying into RAM IS making an unauthorized copy.

    48. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by DavidTC · · Score: 1

      Please stop repeating falsehoods.

      (a) Making of Additional Copy or Adaptation by Owner of Copy. — Notwithstanding the provisions of section 106, it is not an infringement for the owner of a copy of a computer program to make or authorize the making of another copy or adaptation of that computer program provided:
      (1) that such a new copy or adaptation is created as an essential step in the utilization of the computer program in conjunction with a machine and that it is used in no other manner, or

      Copying software into memory or disk as part of using it is explicitly allowed under copyright law.

      --
      If corporations are people, aren't stockholders guilty of slavery?
    49. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Unless you also replace the boot ROM or BIOS you are also running their code.
      Or using the manufacturers software tools to crate your custom software, also puts you under their license terms.
      Distribute a video of how you did the hack, and make money from it, then the MPEG licensing authority will want their cut too.
      The new lords are simply taxing you without representation.

    50. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sorry, but before you accuse others of lying, you should make sure you are correct. The courts have held that that exemption only applies IF you have a valid license and are using the software under the terms of the license. This prevents a copyright holder from claiming copyright infringement after giving someone a license and the person is using the software under the terms of the license. Here is an excerpt from MDY vs Blizzard (2008):

      Ninth Circuit law holds that the copying of software to RAM constitutes “copying” for purposes of section 106 of the Copyright Act.MAI Sys. Corp. v. Peak Computer, Inc., 991 F.2d 511, 518-19 (9th Cir. 1993). Thus, if a person is not authorized by the copyright holder (through a license) or by law (through section117, which will be discussed below) to copy the software to RAM, the person is guilty of copyright infringement because the person has exercised a right (copying) that belongs exclusively to the copyright holder.

    51. Re:I bought it; it's mine. by DavidTC · · Score: 1

      Um, first of all, you're quoting an argument advanced in court, not the actual decision.

      Second, a Ninth Circuit court decision is not law. Other courts have come to other decisions about the exception in 117, which is also where the 'backup' exception is found.

      Third, most importantly, Glider actually launched the game, and thus Glider was copying the client to RAM.

      The argument was made that that copy isn't required to 'use the program' within the context of the law, and the court agreed. Which is stupid, but doesn't have anything to do with the Xbox 360 case. The modification isn't copying anything anywhere.

      --
      If corporations are people, aren't stockholders guilty of slavery?
  7. The law which has exemptions for specific things.. by nedlohs · · Score: 1

    For your phone you can "jailbreak" in order to install non-pirated software or connect to a different carrier.

    For your xbox you can "jailbreak" to investigate security flaws. Note that "running homebrew software" is not investigating security flaws, neither is running pirated software.

    The Library of Congress gets to make this stuff up: http://www.copyright.gov/1201/

  8. The law is weird....you know this. by droopus · · Score: 5, Informative

    Come on, the law is so weird, it has to be real. Fiction has to make sense.

    An example: ever hear of Relevant Conduct? I've talked about this before. Here's the scenario: you get caught with a small bag of weed. You get arrested. While being booked some Fed sees you and says "hey! Aren't you the guy who mowed down all those nuns and orphans with an AK at McDonald's last week?" You deny it, but he's sure and you are charged with mass murder. You go to trial, and win. You are found not guilty after two minutes of deliberation. There was no evidence and the witness said it wasn't you.

    But since the McDonald's was in another state, the case is federal, and you get six months for the weed. Think you'll do it in some easy Club Fed? No way, you have mass murder as relevant conduct. I am not kidding: your custody can be affected by dismissed or acquitted charges. You have been found not guilty, but it's on your Pre-Sentence Investigation and the Bureau of Prisons will send you to a much tougher place: after all, you're a murderer! So, you go to a USP, and are dead in a week.

    As I've posted, I recently did five years in the feds, and rather than be close to my home in a Camp, I was sent to a disciplinary FCI as far away as they could send me, due to charges which were dismissed. The xBox thing does not surprise me in the least...there is so much bad law on the books, which is one reason we have so many people in jail.

    --
    "The pie shall be cut in half and each man shall receive.....death. I'll eat the pie."
    1. Re:The law is weird....you know this. by cheekyjohnson · · Score: 5, Funny

      Sounds like you have... a problem with authority! Why don't you stop being a criminal? After all, the law is always right. This is just how the world works, and since it could, potentially, be worse, you might as well not bother trying to change it.

      --
      Filthy, filthy copyrapists!
    2. Re:The law is weird....you know this. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      And people wonder why the US is regarded by a lot of the world as a place to avoid at all costs?

    3. Re:The law is weird....you know this. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because a lot of the world consists of people who should be thrown into a dank fetid, hole filled with raw sewage underneath a prison?

    4. Re:The law is weird....you know this. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why is this modded troll? What's with people today? It's called sarcastic irony!!

    5. Re:The law is weird....you know this. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because a lot of the world consists of people who should be thrown into a dank fetid, hole filled with raw sewage underneath a prison?

      Yeah, we know. We were talking about America after all.. but nice to see Americans coming to grip with their own status in the world.

    6. Re:The law is weird....you know this. by pacinpm · · Score: 1

      Sounds like you have... a problem with authority! Why don't you stop being a criminal? After all, the law is always right. This is just how the world works, and since it could, potentially, be worse, you might as well not bother trying to change it.

      Should all Negros think like you USA will still have a slavery.

    7. Re:The law is weird....you know this. by droopus · · Score: 5, Informative

      We are the number one per capita nation for incarceration, but more interestingly, we also have the largest number of prison inmates.

      We have 751 people in jail or prison per 100,000 population. UK? 151 per 100k. Germany 88. Japan 63. We throw people behind bars for offenses that would even amount to an arrest in most countries. I met people doing 20 years for a bag of crack the size of a sugar packet. I saw guys doing five for a phone call. I saw guys doing life because they were "co-conspirators" to something that happened 1,000 miles away without their knowledge.

      God Bless America.

      --
      "The pie shall be cut in half and each man shall receive.....death. I'll eat the pie."
    8. Re:The law is weird....you know this. by antifoidulus · · Score: 1

      To be fair by eating at McDonalds the nuns and kids had obviously shown that they wanted to die soon, all the murderer did was expedite the process, and save their tastebuds a bit of agony.

    9. Re:The law is weird....you know this. by Mashiki · · Score: 1

      Excessive law is no law.

      Even members of the roman consul figured that out.

      --
      Om, nomnomnom...
    10. Re:The law is weird....you know this. by trawg · · Score: 5, Interesting

      The prison system in the US is heavily privatised, is it not? I wonder how much of a difference that makes, when there's a strong commercial incentive to have more criminals (assuming that private jails get paid more from the government to house more inmates)?

    11. Re:The law is weird....you know this. by 91degrees · · Score: 1

      It's not just the governmnet payments. Criminals are a very cheap workforce.

    12. Re:The law is weird....you know this. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If all negros thought like that it wouldn't be slavery. Sheep can't be slaves.

    13. Re:The law is weird....you know this. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I saw a 'That's my Bush' episode where they were celebrating the jailing of the 100 millionth US citizen.
      I'd say that are on track...land of the free indeed.

    14. Re:The law is weird....you know this. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      What good are guns to americans if you never use them to defend your rights? That's what I've been wondering about for years.

      You have corruption, injustice and all you do is whine about it. Use them or lose them, as I think the saying goes around there.

      When was the last time there was good ol' flogging of corrupt bureucrat, politician or other rotten power figure?

      Or does not rotten officials exist anymore?

    15. Re:The law is weird....you know this. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It does make quite a difference. Ever heard of the term "prison-industrial complex"? Quite a bit of that is actually legalized modern slavery, and draconian drug laws etc. are merely a way of ensuring a steady supply of slaves.

    16. Re:The law is weird....you know this. by nosferatu1001 · · Score: 1

      Agreed. Essentially legalised slavery (you have no choice in working) meaning the US can "compete" with China on various items, such as military uniforms.

      Horrific idea really.

    17. Re:The law is weird....you know this. by andydread · · Score: 1

      They were useful when the government had the same guns as the people. Now? not so much. F16s, and Hornets and Raptors change the game quite a bit. And you are not allowed to own one so good luck.

    18. Re:The law is weird....you know this. by Antique+Geekmeister · · Score: 1

      Oh, my. Given that "dismissed" is nowhere near the same thing as "not guilty", Stop pretending that it is: That kind of skewing of the argument is the sort of thing that _will_ seriously irritate a judge, and encourage them to lock you up.

      You may be a nice person, and the dismissed charges may be completely bogus, but having them dismissed is merely proof that they didn't think it was worth wasting the court's time, not proof of innocence. And that kind of flawed reasoning is why most crackers should _never_ be allowed to represent themselves in court. They just don't get it, and the judge isn't laughing when they come up with these weird lines of reasoning.

    19. Re:The law is weird....you know this. by Jaysyn · · Score: 1

      They get paid per inmate & you are spot on with your assessment of corruption. The corrections system is something that should have never, ever been privatized.

      --
      There is a war going on for your mind.
    20. Re:The law is weird....you know this. by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

      The prison system in the US is heavily privatised, is it not?

      Hell yes! Having the gubmint run it would be tantamount to commienissum!

      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
    21. Re:The law is weird....you know this. by Lehk228 · · Score: 1

      dismissed is better than not guilty, dismissed means the judge determined that it wasn't even appropriate to put the question of your guilt to a jury.

      --
      Snowden and Manning are heroes.
    22. Re:The law is weird....you know this. by Civil_Disobedient · · Score: 1

      your custody can be affected by dismissed or acquitted charges

      Sentencing rules for judges (or lack thereof) are absolutely, fundamentally fucked in this country. This all but ensures a revolving-door policy for prisoners. You're basically guaranteeing that they'll stay criminals for the rest of their lives.

      I'm sorry to hear about your injustice.

    23. Re:The law is weird....you know this. by DavidTC · · Score: 1

      What are you, an idiot?

      If you've found not guilty the state had enough evidence against you to bring a case, which means they either convinced a grand jury or a judge that there was enough evidence.

      If a case is dismissed, it means there wasn't even that much fucking evidence. A judge saw it and said 'This isn't a real case, get out of here.'.

      Charges being dropped, FYI, are much the same thing, but it's the DA who did it. He started a case, and then realized he'd never win.

      I love in your universe that some insane person who's managed to get into the criminal justice system can file charges that I killed Kennedy, and a judge can look at it and go 'Well, this is stupid, case dismissed', and that somehow is stronger evidence of my guilt than if the judge had gone 'Hmmm...this could be true, let's have the trial.'.

      --
      If corporations are people, aren't stockholders guilty of slavery?
    24. Re:The law is weird....you know this. by MrSenile · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Or should all American Indians care, they could try to take ownership back from America, right?

      Sorry, words and rightful indignation is wonderful and all, but to the worlds bias attitude and the money and power to bigots in all forms, those who care have been carefully herded away from being able to change anything worthwhile.

      You think slavery ended for anyone? Work at a job sometime.

      Think race is considered equal for everyone? If that was the case, why bring up Negros at all?

      Nothing has really changed except the face presented to the world on how it's treated.

    25. Re:The law is weird....you know this. by gknoy · · Score: 1

      If there hasn't been a guilty verdict, then in the eyes of the law, one should be considered not guilty. No exceptions. I don't care if it's because the police fumbled their warrant, or the lawyer is just extra good, or if the person is innocent in truth. It's our duty, if we respect rule of law (and don't want to be hypocrites), to treat it this way.

      The alternative is that we get witch-hunts, where people get punished for being accused or something.

    26. Re:The law is weird....you know this. by Arker · · Score: 1

      You couldnt be more wrong. The law in the US is "innocent until proven guilty." A dismissed case means that the prosecution was not only not able to prove you guilty, they failed to even present a prima facie case! In terms of establishing guilt, this is BETTER than if you went through the whole trial and were found not guilty.

      --
      =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
      Friends don't let friends enable ecmascript.
    27. Re:The law is weird....you know this. by StikyPad · · Score: 1

      Some, but I think most of it has to do with the "tough on crime" image that everyone in politics has to have in order to succeed. Cops don't get any points for letting innocent people go free; they get points for catching criminals, where suspect and criminal are effectively synonymous. DAs have both the authority to bring or dismiss charges AND prosecute those cases, but they can only build political capital by winning cases, not by being reasonable. A good DA then goes on to become a legislator, where he introduces bills to scoop up more criminals, because he's a difference maker. And of course the governor/president signs any criminal law presented to him -- it would be political suicide to do otherwise. Voters don't care what the laws are about; they just don't want criminals running around! Finally, judges are supposed to be independent from the executive branch, but who signs their paycheck? The jury gets to vote, yes, but the judge is in full control of what it is they're actually voting about. Also juries can only vote by unanimity -- dissent is quashed, and deemed a mistrial. (IMO, anything other than a unanimous verdict of guilt -- especially given the ridiculous process of jury selection -- should be deemed a verdict of not guilty. Every single juror should have veto power.) And finally, defense attorneys, prosecutors, and judges all eat lunch with each other daily. The sad thing is that this is the very best system we've come up with so far.

    28. Re:The law is weird....you know this. by Schadrach · · Score: 1

      So, what you are saying is "We didn't feel that bringing these more serious charges to question was worthwhile (presumably because there wasn't remotely enough evidence to demonstrate your guilt, or a case of mistaken identity, or whatever), so when we punish you for the lesser charge, we're going to do so assuming you are also guilty of anything else you've been accused of" is an even remotely sane response?

    29. Re:The law is weird....you know this. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You think slavery ended for anyone? Work at a job sometime.

      And when you find that you get paid and nobody shoots you when you quit, you'll realize that you were right.

    30. Re:The law is weird....you know this. by e4g4 · · Score: 1

      Mmm - I think you can actually own an F-16 (or an FA-18, or a MiG, all of which come up on eBay from time to time). You just can't arm it.

      --
      The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources. - Albert Einstein
    31. Re:The law is weird....you know this. by sorak · · Score: 1

      Sounds like you have... a problem with authority! Why don't you stop being a criminal? After all, the law is always right. This is just how the world works, and since it could, potentially, be worse, you might as well not bother trying to change it.

      Should all Negros think like you USA will still have a slavery.

      You may want to know that the person making that quote was engaging in sarcasm. American's often will often mock the ideas of other people by pretending to agree with them, with ridiculous or naive statements.

      Also, the word "negro" is taboo in the US. We tend to use the phrases "African American" or "black".

    32. Re:The law is weird....you know this. by Antique+Geekmeister · · Score: 1

      No, really, it's not. Dismissed means that if new evidence is found, the charges can be refiled. "Not guilty" means that, even if they found new DNA evidence and a videotape and yoour video diary of the crime, they can't retry you for it, because that would be "double jeopardy".

      Go look up "motions to dismiss" and "double jeapordy" to gain a better understanding of the legal distinctions. It's a fascinating topic.

    33. Re:The law is weird....you know this. by Arker · · Score: 1

      No, really, it's not. Dismissed means that if new evidence is found, the charges can be refiled.

      No, really, it does not. "Dismissed without prejudice" means that. "Dismissed" otherwise means they cannot be refiled, just like a not guilty verdict. If the case makes it very far at all towards a trial then jeopardy is said to have "attached" and double jeopardy may be invoked. Whether or not jeopardy has "attached" has nothing at all to do with the facts of the case, in other words.

      --
      =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
      Friends don't let friends enable ecmascript.
    34. Re:The law is weird....you know this. by SheeEttin · · Score: 1

      Sounds like you have... a problem with authority!

      You know you've been on the Internet too long when the next thing you expect is:
      *shades*
      YEEAAAAHH!

    35. Re:The law is weird....you know this. by Antique+Geekmeister · · Score: 1

      Your use of "no, really, it does not" to then argue against my statement starting the same way is confusing, to say the least. Please be careful with your negatives.

      In any case, Justice Stevens of the US Supreme Court disagrees with you, and wrote the opinion.

      http://ftp.resource.org/courts.gov/c/US/434/434.US.497.76-1168.html

      Dismissal, even with the case in this decsion involving exceptional mishandling of evidency by the prosedcutors, does not prevent refiling of charges. There are apparently some circumstances where a dismissal can bar retrial, but it seems to be mostly a matter of policy, not law. And the decision was a classic one of "there are issues, but we're not blocking it".

    36. Re:The law is weird....you know this. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It makes a huge difference. The prison industry is one of the more evil ones around. They lobby for more laws and harsher penalties to help increase business, and far from rehabilitating people they set them up to come back in.

  9. I am more concerned with by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I am more concerned with the DHS wasting valuable resources not to mention tax dollars on something so trivial. Obviously the DHS is lacking real meaningful work.

    1. Re:I am more concerned with by Ethanol-fueled · · Score: 1, Troll

      Redudant. They are nothing more than a make-work program designed for the sole purpose of thuggish intimidation.

      Even worse, they're using the Boy Scouts to develop their own version of the Hitler Youth, right in my own backyard.

  10. Breaking Apple News by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Man at risk of prosecution for Xbox 360 hacking.

    Slashdot editorial guidelines: if it has "iPhone" in the story, that's the lead angle.

  11. A precedent could prove interesting.... by mark-t · · Score: 1

    If they decide that it *should* be legal to jailbreak video game consoles, and they add a new exception for it, then would that not also make the sale of modchips explicitly legal?

    1. Re:A precedent could prove interesting.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So, basically you just answered yourself why corporations will never let this happen. I bet the judge is already planning his new yacht and which private island to buy.

  12. Jailbreaking? by sangreal66 · · Score: 0

    Doesn't this term refer to a modification which allows you to install software other than the software approved by the manufacturer? There is a hack to accomplish this on the Xbox 360 but it is not what this guy was accused of performing. The hack he offered was to modify the disk drive to play copied disks. It has no use outside of piracy and playing "backups.' Unsigned homebrew software still doesn't run using that hack. This is without getting into the fact that the Library of Congress rule specifically applies to smart phones only.

    1. Re:Jailbreaking? by cheekyjohnson · · Score: 2, Insightful

      He modified his own property. That is what he did. Now, whether this allows others to potentially 'steal' money that only exists in the future of an alternate dimension where the artist/business made more money (the piracy is bad because they steal "potential profit" argument) is irrelevant. It can be used to play backup copies, yes. Now, no one can legally play their backed up games in fear of getting in legal trouble because lobbyists have an illogical fear of 'piracy'. Useless. Pirates will do this whether it is legal or not, and people who have legitimate uses for it could suffer. In some ways, it sounds similar to DRM.

      --
      Filthy, filthy copyrapists!
    2. Re:Jailbreaking? by pacinpm · · Score: 1

      It has no use outside of piracy and playing "backups.'

      Isn't creating backups a part of fair use?

    3. Re:Jailbreaking? by king+neckbeard · · Score: 1

      It is, but circumventing DRM technology to use those backups somehow isnt. It's a pretty tricky plan.

      --
      This is my signature. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
    4. Re:Jailbreaking? by bloodhawk · · Score: 1

      No he didn't modify his own property, he is selling the service of modifying everyone elses property, ie he is profiting from it, that is usually where the line is drawn, he has gone from screwing around at home to a commercial entity.

    5. Re:Jailbreaking? by Khyber · · Score: 1

      Too bad the typical circumvention to make a backup it what is necessary to allow the backup to be restored.

      DMCA is bullshit and the majority of the population just needs to force a class-action civil suit against the government for it.

      --
      Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.
    6. Re:Jailbreaking? by cheekyjohnson · · Score: 1

      "he is selling the service of modifying everyone elses property"

      With their consent? If so, what I said above still applies. If people really want to pay him to do that, that is their own choice.

      --
      Filthy, filthy copyrapists!
    7. Re:Jailbreaking? by srjh · · Score: 1

      Why is "backup" in scare quotes?

      After the red ring of death, one of the most common technical problems was the scratching of discs, due to Microsoft trying to save 25 cents per console. It's definitely a problem I observed before the RROD took out my Xbox 360, and being able to backup my $100 games (the price of a new console game here in Australia) would definitely be welcome.

      Don't fall for Microsoft's lie that "backup" is code for "pirated".

    8. Re:Jailbreaking? by loufoque · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Note that as far as I'm aware, that's only the case in the US.
      In Europe, you are given explicit rights to circumvent DRM for fair use. In France, there even was a proposal to force the manufacturer to provide information on how to circumvent it for that purpose, but of course it was scrapped.

    9. Re:Jailbreaking? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No he didn't modify his own property, he is selling the service of modifying everyone elses property, ie he is profiting from it, that is usually where the line is drawn, he has gone from screwing around at home to a commercial entity.

      By using that logic why aren't ECU flashers for cars illegal?... It's essentially jailbreaking your car.

    10. Re:Jailbreaking? by Lehk228 · · Score: 1

      don't forget the tendancy of the xbox to scratch the hell out of discs sometimes

      --
      Snowden and Manning are heroes.
  13. They just have the wrong Crippen by Rosco+P.+Coltrane · · Score: 1
    --
    "A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
  14. I think people forget that intent matters by Sycraft-fu · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Not all laws take intent in to account, but many do. Why you do something can be as important as what you do. If you kill someone it can be anything from justified self defense, which isn't chargeable, up to 1st degree murder, which can net a death penalty in some places. What it depends on is the specifics of your actions and what you meant to do. In all cases the other person is dead, the major action and outcome are the same. However WHY they are dead matters.

    If someone is trying to kill you and you kill them, justified. If you kill someone through an accident perhaps involving some negligence (like you hit them with your car because you weren't looking) manslaughter 2. If you kill them through direct action, but didn't mean to (like you are beating them up and it goes too far), manslaughter 1. If you mean to kill someone, but don't plan it (like you catch a guy with your wife) murder 2. If you plan out and execute killing someone, murder 1. They are just as dead in all cases, but your reasons and surrounding actions matter.

    Things can also be legal or illegal depending on their intended use. Water pipes/bongs/hookahs have a long tradition of use with tobacco and they are legal in the US for that use. Smoke shops can sell them, and people can buy them. However they are drug paraphernalia and thus illegal if used to smoke marijuana, or other controlled substances. So go in to a smoke shop and ask for a bong to smoke weed, they'll toss you out. Reason is they can get in trouble for selling it if they know it is intended for illegal use.

    Lockpicks are similar. You can own your own lockpicks, no problem. All locksmiths do, and you'd want them to learn. However if you imply that you are going to use them for something illegal, they won't sell them to you and if you do use them for something illegal they are burglary tools and thus not legal.

    Our legal system takes intent in to account, and takes other circumstances. So there is nothing contradictory about saying "An individual can jailbreak their phone for the purpose of adding functionality and that is perfectly legal," and also saying "A person cannot sell Xbox 360 breaks for the purpose of enabling the illicit copying of games."

    There's also the question of what a jailbreak does and doesn't do. In the case of the iPhone, it allows for fairly significant functionality, like installing Flash. Legally this is called a "substantial non-infringing use" and hence is a DMCA exemption. The 360 hack? Does it do anything other than let you play copied games? If not or if the uses are only superficial, then it probably isn't legal.

    Now if you don't like the law, think it should be changed, the answer is to let your representatives know. They are the ones who make the laws, they can unmake them.

    1. Re:I think people forget that intent matters by cheekyjohnson · · Score: 5, Insightful

      "Now if you don't like the law, think it should be changed, the answer is to let your representatives know."

      Well, that will only work if you're a person with a seemingly unlimited supply of money. Sadly, that is not the case with so many people. They will almost always listen to the lobbyist over the poor civilian.

      --
      Filthy, filthy copyrapists!
    2. Re:I think people forget that intent matters by icebraining · · Score: 1

      Yes, but if you get enough people they might listen. The problem is this isn't poor civilians vs lobbyist, this is some civilians vs other civilians + lobbyists.

    3. Re:I think people forget that intent matters by delinear · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The problem is a little bit chicken and egg. Until the crack is available, people are unlikely to be able to develop specific uses for the crack (indeed, to do so they'd either have to have full developer licenses, which instantly bars a big section of society, or they'd have to break the law by cracking the console anyway). Sure, the first use is always to play "backups", mainly because that's the simplest use, but anyone involved in the scene around the original XBOX will know that eventually all kinds of amazing tools and apps were developed to take advantage of the crack. The most significant of these being XBMC, which has outlived the console itself and even back then was years ahead of many of today's commercial media centre offerings. That's why it's particularly significant that they're trying to prevent testimony from someone involved in that scene, it's like they're closing down that avenue of defence specifically so they can play the "this will only be used for piracy" card.

    4. Re:I think people forget that intent matters by I(rispee_I(reme · · Score: 1

      There's also the question of what a jailbreak does and doesn't do. In the case of the iPhone, it allows for fairly significant functionality, like installing Flash. Legally this is called a "substantial non-infringing use" and hence is a DMCA exemption. The 360 hack? Does it do anything other than let you play copied games? If not or if the uses are only superficial, then it probably isn't legal.

      I don't own a 360, much less a hacked one, but I understand that Microsoft requires 360 owners to pay twice to access netflix, unlike the console offerings from Sony or Nintendo. If the device could be made to access Netflix "for free", that would seem both substantial and non-infringing.

    5. Re:I think people forget that intent matters by orasio · · Score: 1

      Our legal system takes intent in to account, and takes other circumstances. So there is nothing contradictory about saying "An individual can jailbreak their phone for the purpose of adding functionality and that is perfectly legal," and also saying "A person cannot sell Xbox 360 breaks for the purpose of enabling the illicit copying of games."

      There's also the question of what a jailbreak does and doesn't do. In the case of the iPhone, it allows for fairly significant functionality, like installing Flash. Legally this is called a "substantial non-infringing use" and hence is a DMCA exemption. The 360 hack? Does it do anything other than let you play copied games? If not or if the uses are only superficial, then it probably isn't legal.

      It doesn't make sense.
      I have a Wii since it came out. It has a WiiKey chip or something like that. I have the homebrew channel, and tried just a little bit of hacking.
      It came with Wii Sports, and I bought Wii Fit afterwards.
      I only play Wii Sports and Wii Fit. My original Wii Sports disc broke in half. I downloaded a Wii Sports ISO, and burned a disc. I don't see how playing my Wii sports copy is not a "substantial non-infringing use". I don't care that much, because I live in South America, and that kind of nonsense hasn't arrived here yet, but me and my Wii have visited the US, and it doesn't make sense that I had to worry about my Wii sports replacement disc, or being prosecuted as a criminal because of doing whatever I want with the stuff I buy, or getting someone to do it for me.

      I believe that the whole "intellectual property" thing is getting worse every day. Not only are governments pretending that intellectual stuff can be stolen, but they are limiting rights on actual property. Last century, you would probably get laughed at saying that a _company_ gets to decide what you can and can't do with stuff you bought from them. It has nothing to do with safety regulations and stuff, but in this case, the seller is limiting your property rights, trying to protect their "intellectual property" rights. Doesn't make any sense at all.

    6. Re:I think people forget that intent matters by Chewbacon · · Score: 1

      Why aboutbplaying backup copies of games? That's permissible.

      --
      Chewbacon
      The Bible is like Wikipedia: written by a bunch of people and verifiable by questionable sources.
    7. Re:I think people forget that intent matters by Ash+Vince · · Score: 1

      Well, that will only work if you're a person with a seemingly unlimited supply of money. Sadly, that is not the case with so many people. They will almost always listen to the lobbyist over the poor civilian.

      It also might be that there are more civilians on the other side wanting the law to stay.

      Not everyone thinks all elements of the DMCA are evil by the way. The core part of the act is about preventing people from profiting from selling a device which is solely used to bypass technical restrictions on copying. Many people actually think that this a worthwhile aim since their livelihoods rely on producing some sort of content that can be easily copied so needs to be protected via some sort of digital protection.

      I am not entirely convinced the numbers would come out on our side on a question of whether the DMCA should be repealed. It would probably depend heavily on how the question was put to them.

      --
      I dont read /. to RTFA, I read /. to offend people in ignorance.
    8. Re:I think people forget that intent matters by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In some states, Hookahs and bongs are illegal.

      In Massachusetts, at least when I was growing up there in the 70s and 80s, it was illegal for anyone who was not a licensed locksmith, registered apprentice locksmith, or a law enforcement officer to OWN lockpicks.

    9. Re:I think people forget that intent matters by puto · · Score: 1

      Latin America has an entirely different set of ethics due to the Catholic church as opposed to the protestant one a forgiving god versus a hard ass god. Protestant work ethic and all that. Plus when you see the huge difference in salaries from world countries and the the huge gap between the have and the have nots. Your statement "I don't care much" is a typical atitude which is holding Latin America back. Civic pride only extends to flag waving. South American countries have some pretty draconian copyright laws but like everything, nothing is really enforced so no one really gives a shit. Copyright, traffic laws, etc. Latinos are a warm friendly bunch, but are entirely ego centric in many ways. I am allowed to say this because I live in Colombia, and I am Colombian. I also work in Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Brasil, and Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Chile and other than the food(and physical traits of the locals) being different they are all pretty much the same. I can literally walk down the street and get a copy of any game, software, for PC or any console from some guy on the corner. 1. Things are expensive because merchants buy them in the bargain bin in the states, then triple the price because they are "imported". 2. People simply cannot afford them. 3. Even if people can afford them there is something in the latin culture that drives them to "get over", not do the right thing. Nintendo offers replacement discs for the Wii Sport for 15 dollars. Which isn't bad. And I doubt the disc broke by itself, so you hold some responsibility in the matter. You are obviously educated and probably from a monied family, due to the quality of your English. i doubt 15 bucks would break the bank. I have yet to hear anyone busted over a single copied desk. Hell, I flew back to Colombia last year from the States with 2 terabytes of video and music on a couple of hard drives, and no one questioned me. I do not understand why you would drag your Wii from South America to the US, seems like a huge pain in the ass. I travel with laptop and a carry on because of work but a gaming console?

      --
      The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
    10. Re:I think people forget that intent matters by twright0 · · Score: 1

      Now if you don't like the law, think it should be changed, the answer is to let your representatives know. They are the ones who make the laws, they can unmake them.

      You must be new here...

    11. Re:I think people forget that intent matters by Schadrach · · Score: 1

      If it's anything like the PS3 one, then it depends on exactly what time you are looking at. At the moment of release of PSJailbreak, there was the potential for non-infringing uses, but none were extant because they simply hadn't been developed yet (shockingly software development takes nonzero time). Now, there are multiple emulators, a couple of minor games, an FTP server, and a handful of other things, all produced within the span of just a couple of months.

    12. Re:I think people forget that intent matters by cheekyjohnson · · Score: 1

      "Not everyone thinks all elements of the DMCA are evil by the way"

      I'm aware. Those people are usually one of the follow: idiots, ignorant, or paid.

      The second one can be solved, and there are so many that exist in the second category.

      --
      Filthy, filthy copyrapists!
  15. I find this not hard to understand by microbee · · Score: 1

    Phones have other uses than playing games (playing games is rather a minor functionality), but the only real usage of jailbreaking game console is, you guessed it, playing pirated games.

    Go figure.

    1. Re:I find this not hard to understand by PinkyGigglebrain · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I would challenge your view that the only "real usage" of moding a game console is to play illegally copied games.

      Of course I can only speak for myself but my intent when I modded my Xbox was so I could copy the games I already owned onto its hard drive and no longer need the easily damaged disks, that in some cases cost me $70+, to play the game. The originals are now stored in a safe location and will only be used to reload the hard disk should it fail at a later date.

      My action also allowed me to extend the life of my console since I no longer needed to use the optical disk drive, which was already starting to fail, and maximize my investment in the games. If I had to keep switching the disks, risking damage to them every time and causing wear on the optical disk drive, I would buy far fewer games than I have. From that view the modding actually led to the sale of more games by the distributors.

      If Microsoft chooses to ban me from using my modded console on their network I do not have a problem with that, they own the servers, but I own the Xbox and will do with it as I please with it.

      And I still fail to see how jail breaking a game console is any different than jail breaking an iPhone, in both cases it allows the owner to do what they want with device they own. If anything I see more of an argument against jail breaking a phone that was discounted pursuant to a service contract and therefor not fully owned by the purchaser until the terms of the contract are fulfilled, than a game console which was purchased outright.

    2. Re:I find this not hard to understand by Nirvelli · · Score: 1

      Clearly you've never heard of XBMC.

    3. Re:I find this not hard to understand by niftydude · · Score: 1

      Mod parent up - I haven't played any games on my xbox in years - but I use xbmc to stream media on my modded xbox every day. I also have a version of debian linux installed which I fire up every now and again.
      Games consoles are rather powerful computers - modding them frees up a lot of capabilities.

      --
      You can never know everything, and part of what you do know will always be wrong. Perhaps even the most important part.
    4. Re:I find this not hard to understand by Hatta · · Score: 1

      Ever scratched a disc? Then you might see the the benefit in having backups of your software. Even if you've never scratched a disc, wouldn't it be nice to not have to worry about the media? Just hand your kids a DVDR and say "have fun" while the original is safely in the closet. There are, in fact, significant non-infringing uses.

      --
      Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
    5. Re:I find this not hard to understand by geminidomino · · Score: 1

      If Microsoft chooses to ban me from using my modded console on their network I do not have a problem with that

      But how can you enjoy your games without being barraged with racial epithets every five minutes? It's like they cloned "Mary-Margaret Catherine Dineen" (q.v. "Johnny Dangerously (1984)") into an army of pre-pubescent ankle-biters to inflate subscription numbers or something...

  16. If it's Microsoft, it's not really yours. by kawabago · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Just what MIcrosoft always wanted, rentable software. This is progress?

    1. Re:If it's Microsoft, it's not really yours. by MithrandirAgain · · Score: 1

      This is progress?

      According to some, companies have the God-given right to do whatever they want to do, like restrict their costumer's rights, etc. And usually the response to such allegations is "If you don't like it, take a hike." which is often not possible (Google Analytics, anyone?)
      Unfortunately, there isn't a whole lot we can do. Unless what a company does explicitly break the law, there is nothing we can do except not buy from them. (Or we could just waste our lives by writing really nasty letters all day to Ballmer, Jobs, and Schmidt.)
      In other words, companies care diddly-squat about "progress". It's all about the Benjamins.

  17. Call Amnesty by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Matthew Crippen is clearly a thought criminal who, in any remotely just society, should be released immediately without further processing. We need to get Amnesty international onto this one. Seriously.

    What you do with your own zeros and ones is no different from what you do with your own thoughts.

  18. Why bother? by iamacat · · Score: 2, Insightful

    It takes a sick groupie to keep buying stuff from people who are trying to put you in jail for using your own paid for product. Just say no with your wallet. There are plenty of inexpensive desktops, laptops and other devices that officially support Linux or even come with it pre installed. Or you take free old hardware from your friends, coworkers, Goodwill and other situations where the original vendor doesn't benefit or the indirect benefit is offset by public good. Eventually some company, big or small, will get the message that there is a need for a different kind of product. And serving even one in 100K people on planet earth can sustain a small business.

  19. Why is the article comparing these 2? by bloodhawk · · Score: 0

    I think there is a pretty major difference to jailbreaking your phone so you can install whatever apps you like compared to someone selling Xbox 360 mods to allow you to run pirated games. why would anyone think an exemption for jailbreaking your phone would be related to this is anyones guess.

    1. Re:Why is the article comparing these 2? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      xbmc? free60?

    2. Re:Why is the article comparing these 2? by Belial6 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      There really is not a difference between jail breaking your phone to allow you to run pirated games, and selling Xbox 360 mods to allow you to install whatever apps you like. I don't know what unapproved apps are available for the 360, but I still run XBMC on my XBox1. In fact, XBMC has always been the most used app on my Xboxes.

    3. Re:Why is the article comparing these 2? by delinear · · Score: 1

      The crazy thing is, if MS had officially supported installing apps like XBMC, they would now own the living room. It was such a great app and so ahead of anything else at the time, hell, it might even have saved HD-DVD if it was all seen as part of the XBOX family of functionality. Instead they locked everything down to go chase the shadows of pirates, I wonder how much that will end up costing them when the final tally is made.

    4. Re:Why is the article comparing these 2? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There really is not a difference between jail breaking your phone to allow you to run pirated games, and selling Xbox 360 mods to allow you to install whatever apps you like. I don't know what unapproved apps are available for the 360, but I still run XBMC on my XBox1. In fact, XBMC has always been the most used app on my Xboxes.

      In our online shop you will find the best tool for your hair style- ghd Australia .If you find ghd IV Styler and you'll surely fall into love with it.We sincerely recommend you ghd IV Mini Styler that is so well accepted by our customers. ghd IV Dark Styler is our new branch. Special materials of ghd Hair Straightener can succeed in smoothing hair and creating luscious curls, twirls or flicks. Free Shipping on all the ghd Straightener . Don't hesitate to contact us. We have the ability to supply you the best service.

    5. Re:Why is the article comparing these 2? by stewbacca · · Score: 1

      Exactly right. This has NOTHING to do with Apple, iPhone, jailbreaking, etc. This is a guy selling mods that exist SOLELY to run illegal copies of software.

      Of course nobody around here thinks companies should make any money and information just wants to be free and all that, but still...

  20. Re:AMERIKA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The New Russia, where the jail breaks you.

  21. It's a conspiracy! by MithrandirAgain · · Score: 1
    From the article:

    Where did he learn the skill?
    "Google, man."

    It's a conspiracy, man! Google is controlling people's minds and making them do things!

  22. my guess by pbjones · · Score: 1

    my guess is a similar ruling that allows Region-free DVD players into Australia, the line between making it work ie enabling functionality, and breaking copyright 'protection' systems.

    --
    There was an unknown error in the submission.
  23. isn't it obvious? by Sir_Lewk · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Because Apple is the new blac^W Microsoft.

    --
    "linux is just DOS with a UNIX like syntax" -- Galactic Dominator (944134)
    1. Re:isn't it obvious? by sydneyfong · · Score: 1

      I have been hearing lately that Apple is *worse* than Microsoft.

      Please enlighten me how it is so.

      --
      Don't quote me on this.
    2. Re:isn't it obvious? by Smallpond · · Score: 1

      I have been hearing lately that Apple is *worse* than Microsoft.

      Please enlighten me how it is so.

      Neither is "worse". They are both just companies trying to maximize profits. Neither wants unlicensed software to run on the hardware that they sell since it doesn't provide them with a continuing revenue stream.

      As for the two different cases: The reason to unlock a phone is to use all of the capabilities of the hardware on any carrier. The reason Crippen was arrested was because the unlocked xboxes could run pirated games.

      That said, why is tracking down software pirates a high DHS priority? They can't find anything else to do?

    3. Re:isn't it obvious? by HermMunster · · Score: 1

      A jail-broken phone can run pirated software.

      --
      You can lead a man with reason but you can't make him think.
    4. Re:isn't it obvious? by Smallpond · · Score: 1

      Feel free to run Halo on your phone.

    5. Re:isn't it obvious? by AmigaMMC · · Score: 1

      Enlighten yourself. It's pretty clear. The truth is out there.

    6. Re:isn't it obvious? by drcheap · · Score: 1

      Feel free to run Halo on your phone.

      Halo on the iPhone...yeah, why not?

      Welcome to 2008 (I think that is when it was done).

  24. Think of the children by andi75 · · Score: 1

    Believe it or not, but I'd love to mod my Wii so I could create & play backups of all the discs I bought, because I don't want buy them again when my kids accidently scratch my Mario Kart discs when they play them.

    And I'd gladly pay someone for the service too (after all, he's spending time, and he's risking to brick my hardware, so there's some liability as well...).

    The only real solution is to pass a law that makes all kinds of DRM illegal. Any technology whose only purpose is to make the usage of the product more difficult and cumbersome (yes, that includes unskippable DVD ads) should be banned.

    1. Re:Think of the children by AlexiaDeath · · Score: 1

      Softmod is easy peasy on wii. I have one of those new fancy black wii-s without dvd player hardware. All you need is a specific game, a 1 or 2 GB SD card and about 1 hour of your time. Playing one level of the said rather lame game was the most painful part of it. I personally did it to have the homebrew media player and a better browser on the main device hooked up to my projector. It's a computing device I own, anyone telling me what I can or cant install on it can take a hike.

    2. Re:Think of the children by Ciggy · · Score: 1

      The only real solution is to pass a law that makes all kinds of DRM illegal.

      Or perhaps make those who insist on using DRM responsible for cost of replacement of damaged goods, ieeg if disk becomes unreadable and user was prevented from making, and using, a backup due to DRM, then publisher of disk becomes legally liable for replacing the disk and will bear all costs for that replacement, including the cost of user having to contact them.

      ...unskippable DVD ads...

      are theft and should be treated as such. By being unskippable, I am forced to provide electrical power to my DVD player for their duration; that is electricity for which I have paid and once gone is unable to be reused. I am supposed to watch those ads, so I am also expected to have to power my display and sound devices [could be same device] for the duration - more electrical power being stolen. There is also my time which has been stolen. When an unskippable ad appears at the beginning of a DVD which contains 2 or more episodes of a series, each time the DVD is inserted to watch an episode, the electricity is stolen again.

      It would be funny if it wasn't true the hypocrasy of those who wish to give us information (incorrect information at that) about theft use theft to do it.

      ...should be banned

      The global climate change is a very good argument against them: a 30 episode series with a 30 second unskippable ad amounts to 15mins worth of electricity [and time stolen] when viewing all the episodes for each disk [set] that is used - it soon adds up to quite a lot of wasted power.

      --

      A rose by any other name would smell as sweet;
      A chrysanthemum by any other name would be easier to spell
    3. Re:Think of the children by Teancum · · Score: 1

      DRM ("Digital "rights" Management) is something that to me was a stupid idea in the first place in terms of legislating. Formally, DRM is the technologies being used to "certify" that copyrighted content is being used in the way and manner that the producer intended. It also gets into the concept of copyright licenses and what they are intended to cover.

      Normally, a copyright license covers re-use and re-publication authority. For quite some time, there were publishers who would grant regional licenses to others who wanted to distribute some book, movie, or something else that would be copyrighted. For example, the movie studios of Hollywood would often grant a license for distributors to show their movies in different regions of America and later the rest of the world. This would be a distribution license where the terms and conditions for how the movie could be copied or displayed to mass audiences was spelled out, often in detail.

      Where it gets crazy is that some lawyer started to add in clauses for things other than merely duplicating and distributing the copyrighted content, and started to put in all kind of other clauses placing additional restrictions that weren't even covered under normal copyright law where it changed not only how it could be copied but also how that content could be used at all.

      Getting specific to computer software (how the Xbox applies here), there have been various schemes developed over the years by publishers who have tried to stop people from being able to duplicate software. For most computer users, duplicating software and sharing it with friends has been a common occurrence and the software publishers have the notion that they ought to be the only folks with either the ability or the "right" to duplicate content. The music and movie industries in particular have been very paranoid about getting involved with putting content onto computers, precisely due to the ease of being able to copy materials on computers.

      Finally, most of the "content producers" (aka major software publishers & Hollywood entertainment companies) realized that using a purely technological solution to stop people from copying their products is impossible, so they decided to criminalize the act of duplicating content. No thought that perhaps DRM stops legitimate applications of the equipment including fair use (including personal fair-use), creation of content for those devices by "non-approved" 3rd parties (not illegal even though some equipment manufacturers would make you think so) and simply trying to figure out how something works (reverse-engineering.... also not illegal in spite of people suggesting otherwise).

      This isn't even getting to the legality of silly things like a shrink-wrap license agreement and other legal instruments that go into effect in spite of the fact that no contracts have been signed or being held to the terms of these kind of contracts.

    4. Re:Think of the children by DavidTC · · Score: 1

      Or perhaps make those who insist on using DRM responsible for cost of replacement of damaged goods, ieeg if disk becomes unreadable and user was prevented from making, and using, a backup due to DRM, then publisher of disk becomes legally liable for replacing the disk and will bear all costs for that replacement, including the cost of user having to contact them.

      Indeed, I'd like to see a law: Either each manufacturer of copyrighted stuff makes no efforts to impede the creation and use of backups, (They don't have to help, just can't impede it.), or they're required, by law, to replace any damaged media they sold, until the copyright on the game expires.

      Same with digitally activated downloads. I purchased it, you're required to let me download and/or activate it. (Not provide actual online services forever, just installation.) If there's a means to download the install files and back them up, then they just have to provide the activation.

      There is a reason we let people make backups of copyrighted stuff for their own use. If manufacturers are stopping that from happening, then they need to fulfill the purpose of backups.

      --
      If corporations are people, aren't stockholders guilty of slavery?
  25. If I bought it... by Hamsterdan · · Score: 1

    I should own it. be it a phone, a console, a car...

    If I choose to put a 5.0 cammer engine in the car *I bought* and forego the warranty, It's my choice. I won't go to prison for it. (oops, already did it in my friend's 2k4 Marauder, added a supercharger too, so guess I'll go to prison for life now...)

    When I buy it it's mine to do whatever the fuck I want with it... If I want to set it on fire with thermite, jailbreak it, or else...

    --
    I've got better things to do tonight than die.
    1. Re:If I bought it... by Amarantine · · Score: 1

      I expect it's a bit different with cars and bikes... You take them on public roads, shared by others, and there is all kinds of safety regulations involved. You cannot just take anything with wheels and an engine on the road without the neccessary paperwork. I see what you're getting at, but there are rules on the road. However, if you just use it on private, closed circuits, i guess it's a different matter.

    2. Re:If I bought it... by stewbacca · · Score: 1

      If you buy ANYTHING, you are liable if you use it to do illegal activities. This guy wasn't arrested for jail breaking his xbox. He was arrested for charging people to mod their xboxes to run pirated games.

      [car anology]You can modify your engine all you want, but you can't drive it around if it isn't street legal[/car analogy]. Set fire to you car if you like but most likely face a civil penalty (unless you get a permit). Possessing thermite is also probably illegal.

      See you can't just do whatever you want because you own something.

  26. Librarian of Congress? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why do people (the original poster and subsequent commenters) keep referring to the Library of Congress? I think maybe you mean the US Congress itself, which is responsible for introducing and passing legislation, as opposed to the Library of Congress... which is a library.

    1. Re:Librarian of Congress? by Teancum · · Score: 1

      In America, the Library of Congress has been given the duties of collecting the registration deposits for anybody wishing to formally register their copyright with the U.S. congress. If you wish to apply for copyright (as opposed to simply letting copyright be automagically applied upon putting content on a "fixed medium") you need to fill out some forms and send a couple copies of whatever copyrighted material you wish to have enforced to the Library of Congress.

      This organization, the Library of Congress, is a very interesting organization. It is not an executive branch agency but rather falls strictly under the authority of the legislative branch entirely, and is governed by a committee of congressmen where the "Librarian of Congress" is appointed jointly by the President pro tem of the U.S. Senate and the Speaker of the House. The U.S. President has no say at all in the operations of the Library of Congress.

      Originally, this library was a simple resource that members of congress would use to either pass some time or to research legislation (back when members of congress actually wrote their own legislation). In other words, an ordinary library but one that had some interesting people as regular clients. The original collection was started through a donation by Thomas Jefferson, burned down by the British in the War of 1812, and then rebuilt again. In an effort to establish the library and to cut down on expenses, congress (since it does write the laws of the country) set up a tax^h^h^h donation system where every publisher who wants copyright enforced in America would send a copy of their book, movie, or other publication to the Library of Congress... done for the express purpose so Congress wouldn't have to pay for any of the books in this library. As a result, the Library of Congress now has the single largest collection of books and copyrighted material in the world.

      The reason why the opinion of the Librarian of Congress matters her is mainly due to the fact that over time the role of the librarian has expanded beyond merely a conservator of these books but also to be a legal expert in terms of copyright law and to be the main source of opinions over what is legal without having to go to the court system. The opinion of the Librarian of Congress matters in terms of judicial rulings and has been given over time extra authority that would typically be found only with the executive branch of government. It is this additional authority that has been granted to this political office over time which is why the Library and the Librarian of Congress matter in this case.

    2. Re:Librarian of Congress? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ah, okay. Thanks for taking to time to explain that. That was a pretty informative response.

  27. I'll tell you want kind of law... by pedantic+bore · · Score: 1

    The same kind of law that makes it illegal for some loving long-term monogamous couples to get married, while others can, for example.

    Seriously, looking for logic, proportion and consistency in legal statutes is pointless at best, maddening at worst. A large number of laws are written by people with interests to protect, or beliefs to promulgate, rather than any notion or desire for justice.

    --
    Am I part of the core demographic for Swedish Fish?
    1. Re:I'll tell you want kind of law... by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1

      A large number of laws are written by people with interests to protect, or beliefs to promulgate, rather than any notion or desire for justice.

      At least here in the U.S., that has been true since our formation as a nation.

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    2. Re:I'll tell you want kind of law... by JackOfAllGeeks · · Score: 1

      Current marriage laws say nothing about long-term or loving. You got the monogamous part right, though.

  28. I can play non-sequitur too! by harlows_monkeys · · Score: 2, Funny

    Back in July, the Librarian of Congress officially made it legal to jailbreak your iPhone (or any phone). So why is it that the government is trying to prosecute Matthew Crippen for jailbreaking Xbox 360s?

    I got dinner from Arby's tonight. So why is it raining outside?

    1. Re:I can play non-sequitur too! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I got dinner from Arby's tonight. So why is it raining outside?

      Because god is crying over your misfortune.

  29. Only if civilians keep that attitude by Sycraft-fu · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The prime interest of a politician is, and must be, to get reelected. After all, fail at that, and you aren't a politician anymore. So it takes precedence. Ultimately that means keeping the voters happy. Now if the voters ignore the shit you pull, well then you can do as you please. However if voters hold them to account, then they'll do as they are told (or be replaced by ones who do).

    So, if you keep that defeatist attitude, and espouse it to others, then yes, you'll have say at all. However if you wake up and realize that indeed the voters DO choose who is in office, then you'll realize that isn't the case. No, you as a single person cannot change things all on your own. However you shouldn't be able to, this isn't a dictatorship. Doesn't mean you can't make a difference. Let them know how you feel, and let your friends know to do the same. If enough people care, change will happen.

    This crap of "Oh lobbyists control everything and there's nothing we can do!" is only true if people let it be true. Your vote, your voice, is just as important as anyone elses. However if you just bitch about it and act powerless, well then you are.

    Remember that having only a small amount of power (which is all a single voter has) is not the same as having no power. It only becomes no power if your attitude demands it be such.

    1. Re:Only if civilians keep that attitude by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The prime interest of a politician is, and must be, to get reelected. After all, fail at that, and you aren't a politician anymore.
      Yes, we can generalise this to "the prime interest of anyone is, and must be, to never leave their current occupation".

    2. Re:Only if civilians keep that attitude by 10101001+10101001 · · Score: 1

      The prime interest of a politician is, and must be, to get reelected. After all, fail at that, and you aren't a politician anymore. So it takes precedence.

      For some politicians, yes. But reasonably speaking a politician isn't merely a whore. Politicians do tend to have actual beliefs and they run on a platform of those beliefs. Yes, lobbyists, special interest groups, or simply experience can change those beliefs over time. But whatever beliefs they hold tend to take precedence. That means they tend to spin their beliefs in a fashion that voters will like (or, at least, not hate).

      Ultimately that means keeping the voters happy.

      Perhaps you should look into "negative campaigning". It's sufficient, many times, to simply have enough people in one's district who hold some core belief (gay rights, gun rights, etc) and to paint any possible other candidate, no matter how moderate (since in a district where pro-gay rights are an election issue, most people and hence most politicians are for pro-gay rights), as crazy to be reelected. More generally, it's better for many voters to have the "evil" they know (ie, reelect an incumbent) than to have a new "evil", even though in most instances it matters very little who is elected since laws generally reflect the mindset and/or apathy of politicians and the populace, especially when it comes to a radical shift in who is considered electable.

      Now if the voters ignore the shit you pull, well then you can do as you please. However if voters hold them to account, then they'll do as they are told (or be replaced by ones who do).

      Not really. One basically has to change the ecosystem of who is electable. One needs to make something, like say jailbreaking, such a fundamental issue that any politician needs to be for it to be elected. Yes, that does mean at some level choosing to vote out someone potentially on that issue. But, considering just how many issues there are, it is both silly and unreliably to try to merely use voting as a basis to select electable candidates. Even primaries aren't enough, really. Grassroots movements are the only real way to have that sort of change*.

      So, if you keep that defeatist attitude, and espouse it to others, then yes, you'll have say at all. However if you wake up and realize that indeed the voters DO choose who is in office, then you'll realize that isn't the case. No, you as a single person cannot change things all on your own. However you shouldn't be able to, this isn't a dictatorship. Doesn't mean you can't make a difference. Let them know how you feel, and let your friends know to do the same. If enough people care, change will happen.

      And that last point is the fundamental problem. You can't really force people to care. It's very hard to convince people to care about running custom programs on their XBox 360, but it's much easier to get people to care about running custom programs on their smartphone. Even then, the exemption wasn't the result of an election issue but the general mindset of politicians and the populace. Voters may matter but most vote on a few core issues with a wish that a politician is open to listen and change his mind according to the whim of the populace. To that end, I'd hardly call it defeatist to recognize that most people care more about their pragmatic desires than ideology; it's only that some ideologies seems to people to produce better pragmatic outcomes. I just don't see "game consoles as hackable computers" really fitting into the pragmatism of most and the ideology (very much the OSS/FSS movement) itself really doesn't seem to be very wide spread given the decades of grassroots effort to push it.

      This crap of "Oh lobbyists control everything and there's nothing we can do!" is only true if people let it be true. Your vote, your voice, is just as important as anyone elses. However if you jus

      --
      Eurohacker European paranoia, gun rights, and h
    3. Re:Only if civilians keep that attitude by hypergreatthing · · Score: 1

      So what law have you successfully gotten repealed? Working hard on that DMCA? Wiretap immunity? Patriot act? etc?

      Yeah thought so. It's so easy to say you have a defeatist attitude smugly. It's more of a realistic view of things.

    4. Re:Only if civilians keep that attitude by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The problem is that ANY politician that will get elected will be bought by lobbyists, so your argument of replacing politicians who have been bought with politicians who haven't been bought yet rings a bit hollow.

    5. Re:Only if civilians keep that attitude by AltairDusk · · Score: 1

      I would love to agree here, unfortunately this assumes informed voters who care enough to stay abreast of what their elected representative is doing and won't just vote based on campaign ads / party lines / who looks better. Money does play a large part: campaign ads, rallies, ads bought by 3rd parties... This does not mean we should give up, on the contrary we should always strive to change that which needs changing, however it is hard to get enough people to stand up and start caring until things get so extreme that they can't possibly ignore the issues.

    6. Re:Only if civilians keep that attitude by Teancum · · Score: 1

      So what law have you successfully gotten repealed? Working hard on that DMCA? Wiretap immunity? Patriot act? etc?

      This is also why it is so important to stop bad legislation in the first place from getting passed than trying to repeal it later.

    7. Re:Only if civilians keep that attitude by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I vote libertarian every election asshole and it doesn't change shit. Your vote is next to meaningless. Every congressional district is gerrymandered the fuck out of. Democracy in this country is fucking weak ass shit. Wolves and sheep voting on what's for dinner.

      That being said, what I find particularly fucking lame on your part is your call to "not bitch" which is particularly fucking stupid because thats why we the 1st Amendment! And back then everyone couldn't even vote! So we get to vote your Darth Sidious and your like all "hey guys you get a vote, don't bitch!"

      Voting was a frequent and patriotic in the USSR as well.

      Remember that exercising your right be a bitch doesn't your not a bitch. But hey if working hard for them pimps does it for ya man then keep at it.

    8. Re:Only if civilians keep that attitude by Schadrach · · Score: 1

      Hell, let's just replace our elected officials with randomly selected ones -- make it like jury duty. Rotate them semi-frequently and the price to buy them out might stop being so damned worth it. =p

    9. Re:Only if civilians keep that attitude by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      except lobbyists simply have to bribe government officials. We, as individuals, have to convince tens or hundreds of thousands of people who don't give a shit about any of the issues, let alone this specific issue, that they should also tell government officials that they don't want what the lobbyists want.
      dropping a bag of money off at a doorstep is significantly easier than dropping a hundred thousand bags of money off at a hundred thousand doorsteps.

    10. Re:Only if civilians keep that attitude by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The prime interest of a politician is, and must be, to get reelected. After all, fail at that, and you aren't a politician anymore. So it takes precedence. Ultimately that means keeping the voters happy. Now if the voters ignore the shit you pull, well then you can do as you please. However if voters hold them to account, then they'll do as they are told (or be replaced by ones who do).

      If only that were true. Unfortunately these days the companies purchasing legislation are more than happy to give a recently-ousted politician who scratched their back a lucrative job, a job that usually entails purchasing more legislation from the newcomer who just filled in their old seat in congress. So if the prime interest of the politician is money or influence then they don't have to give a rat's ass about getting reelected.

      So yes - vote because it's better than doing nothing. But don't delude yourself that it's a cure-all. The game is rigged and citizens are the ones getting screwed.

    11. Re:Only if civilians keep that attitude by Spykk · · Score: 1

      The problem with this line of thinking is that it has been shown that advertising can buy votes. There is a ratio relating votes lost through actions vs money gained that means lobbyists just have to pay more than X and it makes political sense for a politician to do something unpopular.

    12. Re:Only if civilians keep that attitude by cheekyjohnson · · Score: 1

      Voting does not change anything. All politicians are this way, likely. What you don't seem to realize is that the government has begun using excuses to pass laws that strip away the freedom of the people and sometimes satisfy lobbyists (terrorism, piracy, etc).

      --
      Filthy, filthy copyrapists!
  30. Re:What kind of law^H^H^H money by Joce640k · · Score: 1

    Fixed that for ya. The word you wanted was "money".

    --
    No sig today...
  31. Re:AMERIKA by zwarte+piet · · Score: 1

    Nothing new about that.

  32. Re:The law which has exemptions for specific thing by delinear · · Score: 1

    And as mobile and console gaming converge, I wonder how they will continue to justify a distinction that essentially gives one company a competitive advantage over another.

  33. Re:Why bother? EFF bothers. by andydread · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Now how do you get the ignorant masses from running out and purchasing/licensing DRM infected gear? There is no warning label on such goods that state "WARNING: If you modify this device you may go to prison" Maybe there should be a campaign to educate consumers in such a fashion. Who is going to sponsor it? Maybe EFF? How many people on Slashdot donate to the EFF? I do. Every time the make news I donate again. People can thank the EFF for it now being legal to jailbreak their Iphones. Just a quick google search shows some of the valuable work they have done and you can go here to see a list of that valuable work. I urge every Slashdotter to Join the EFF and help them fight the RIAA/MPAA/BSA juggernauts. Any little bit helps.

  34. It's all about political influence by Teancum · · Score: 1

    Of course this is a big deal because Microsoft has been able to bribe^h^h^h^h^h give campaign contributions to enough key politicians including state attorney generals, congressmen, and state legislators that they can pretty much have their way in terms of what laws are written and when they are enforced. Money==power and in this case the "golden rule" applies: "He who has the gold makes the rules". Microsoft seems to have a fair bit of "gold" to spread around, as long as the politicians get their fair cut of the profits.

    Ever wonder why Microsoft suddenly has almost no problem with the anti-trust lawsuits any more? Bill Gates thought originally that political campaign spending was a waste of money until the legal troubles started to come up, and then Microsoft set up one of the largest corporate lobbying groups in D.C. and established a couple dozen "political action committees" strictly for the purpose of getting sympathetic congressmen re-elected. And then all of Microsoft's legal problems disappeared like the morning dew. Did you really think Microsoft changed its business practices through all of that?

    This prosecution is all about that political influence and how Microsoft now controls the judicial system because of its continued political activity. Opinions of ordinary folks be damned when a Microsoft lawyer can get a phone call direct to a senator or lead prosecutor to make sure their opinion is heard while you or I of more modest means would be sent through a maze of petty bureaucrats and politely or not told to go away because of our lack of importance.

    It seems amazing that you can go to prison for "intellectual property" violations... which normally are strictly a civil court issue that can only make you go bankrupt. Seriously, how does sending somebody to prison fit within the congressional authority "To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;"? If America was a real republic rather than a corporate kleptocracy, things like the U.S. Constitution would matter and the law that this is being prosecuted under would be declared unconstitutional. "Anti-piracy" laws should not be made a criminal matter and can't really be justified as such.

  35. Constitutional Amendment? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'm just curious, was there an amendment to the Constitution of the United States that I missed which allows the Librarian of Congress to make laws? I thought Congress made legislation, the President signed them into law and the Supreme Court reviewed them for Constitutionality once the said law was challenged. I'm just sayin'...

    1. Re:Constitutional Amendment? by DavidTC · · Score: 1

      Congress has delegated the 'fair use' exemption for copyright to being decided by the LoC.

      They're in charge of defining exactly what exemptions copyright has. (Or, rather, they can add them...they can't take away ones in the law.)

      --
      If corporations are people, aren't stockholders guilty of slavery?
  36. Something seems wrong to me by Glarimore · · Score: 1

    ... when you can be charged with the possibility of jail time for simply soldering computer components together for hire.


    This guy isn't responsible for what people do AFTER he performs a hardware modification.

    1. Re:Something seems wrong to me by Combatso · · Score: 1

      This guy isn't responsible for what people do AFTER he performs a hardware modification.

      Criminal facilitation... If it can be proved he did it with knowledge that it would be used for a crime... then yes, he is indeed responsible.

    2. Re:Something seems wrong to me by stewbacca · · Score: 1

      ... when you can be charged with the possibility of jail time for simply soldering computer components together for hire.

      I offer services where I simply modify assault rifles so they can fire in fully automatic mode. Bastard feds won't leave me alone.

      This guy isn't responsible for what people do AFTER he performs a hardware modification.

      While not hardware, I think Napster has set the precedent on this.

  37. Sony could have prevented the whole PS3 fiasco... by Suzuran · · Score: 1

    Sony could have prevented the whole PS3 jailbreak fiasco without exposing their games to piracy if they had simply given homebrew/hobby developers the same access to the hardware as their commercial developers.
    The drive to jailbreak the PS3 was purely because of the restrictions placed on the OtherOS environment. (OtherOS has no access to the RSX graphics hardware and restricted access to the Cell SPUs.)

    First some background:
    All software in the PS3 is cryptographically signed, and Sony already has multiple signing keys for different applications. Software is either signed by the programmer with a key present in Sony's SDK during development, or signed by Sony for production releases.

    There are three main types of PS3 hardware.
    PS3 TOOL is the development machine. It has an extra processor in it that runs a debug monitor allowing manipulation of the Cell and RSX. Tool can run programs signed with Sony's SDK key or signed with Sony's release keys. Tool also has twice the RAM of a retail PS3 and a blu-ray emulation function. It cannot play Blu-ray movies.
    PS3 TEST is a development test machine intended for use in QA. It does not have the debug processor, and is identical to retail hardware with the exception that it has a second ethernet interface for use with debugging software, it has the blu-ray emulation function, and it can run programs signed with Sony's SDK key or the release keys.
    The last version is the garden-variety retail PS3.

    The blu-ray emulator used in TOOL and TEST lacks the cryptographic signature present on retail disks, so if you make a image of a retail disc and try to load it with the emulator, it will fail to decrypt.
    Only executables signed with the SDK key can be used with the blu-ray emulator. This means you can't use a tool or test machine to pirate released software.

    Here's what Sony needs to do:

    First, make a homebrew/hobby developer package and sell it. The SDK and TOOL provided ABSOLUTELY MUST be absolutely identical in every way to that supplied to commercial developers. Pricing should be high enough to make a profit, but low enough to be obtainable. Say, $1500-2500 or so. There should be no software support entitlement (to control costs), and a non-disclosure agreement on any proprietary technologies in the SDK.

    Second, make a homebrew/hobby version of the PSN. There is already a developer version of the PSN, and this would ensure that everyone stays separated. Access to the homebew/hobby PSN must be conditioned upon acceptance of the non-disclosure agreement. Then create some message boards or forums in the PSN. This would enable the hobby/homebrew programmers to communicate with one another while being assured they are in compliance with the NDA. Consider allowing commercial developers access to the hobby/homebrew PSN as well, so if we find anything interesting they get access to it too.

    The third item is the only item that is really new. There should be some sort of release mechanism where games can be released from the homebrew/hobby community to the rest of the world running retail hardware. This shouldn't be free - Sony needs to pay their bills, and it would discourage releasing crap that sucks. Homebrew releases should be prevented from generating profit for the programmer, to keep commercial developers from using the homebrew SDK as a cheap substitute for the commercial SDK. The homebrew developer would pay Sony's QA costs, and once the QA passes, the release is cryptographically signed and becomes a free item in the PSN online store. If the game has serious commercial potential, perhaps an agreement could be made between Sony and the programmer for a full commercial release, with Sony keeping the majority of the proceeds. This is so there is an incentive for upgrading from the homebrew SDK to the commercial SDK if you are interested in making a profit.

    It is of EXCEEDINGLY VITAL importance that the only difference between a commercial SDK and homebrew SDK be the software support entitlement and ability to generat

  38. Are we renting or buying? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If we're not allowed to what the hell we please with our purchased hardware, aren't we in effect RENTING instead of owning? If so, I'd like to see prices drop and a replacement program in place...

  39. a better car on is putting your own car stereo in by Joe+The+Dragon · · Score: 1

    a better car on is putting your own car stereo in vs the one that same with the car and doing that can send you to jail as they clam the other stereo can play backup / music from a HDD or CDR. Even if you play free music and or your own music.

  40. Timing is everything by davev2.0 · · Score: 1

    Crippen was arrested before jailbreaking of the iPhone was legal. Even if the iPhone decision can be made to apply to the XBox360, he committed his offense and was arrest when it was still illegal.

  41. How people feel if they baded app store lock in / by Joe+The+Dragon · · Score: 1

    How people feel if they baded app store lock in / high dev fees in exchange for a mod chip lock down?

    Let say there is more then 1 app store and the other app store is not allowed to any censorship (other then apps that let you hack the system to bypass the app DRM? and only for that with NO BS that can be slapped on any thing) and NO HIGH dev fees like apple $99 /year + 30% is a little to high maybe just a % maxing at like 20%-25% or $99 / year max with a 100% free zone for free apps?

  42. Homeland Security? Seriously? by Openstandards.net · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Is anyone else concerned that homeland security arrested him? Weren't they created to fight terrorism in response to 9/11?!? And, what on earth does it have to do with "Immigration and Customs"? It sounds like the ESA went to an organization that they knew (1) had nothing important to do today, (2) would have the least capability to understand the issue involved and (3), would have a tendency to overblow the importance, and (4) be desperate to throw someone in jail.

  43. What kind of law? by residieu · · Score: 1

    "What kind of law says it's okay to jailbreak the phone in your pocket, but not your gaming console?"

    The kind that Microsoft paid for, not Apple, obviously. Gotta pony up if you want legal protection.

  44. What Kind of Law? by dwightk · · Score: 1

    I'm guessing the submitter has little to no exposure to laws.

    --
    Like anyone can even know that
  45. Apples and Oranges....kinda by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    allowing a customer to do something to their device themselves is a little different than what he was doing - getting paid by third-parties to break the protection. A subtle difference, but a difference nonetheless.

  46. Another misleading summary in the original article by Zontar_Thing_From_Ve · · Score: 1

    I suppose if we could go back a few years and put Slashdot in the past, someone would post the following about serial killer Ted Bundy:

    Ted Bundy is going to be executed by the state of Florida. His crime? He dared to defend himself in a legal trial rather than pay an attorney to represent him. So to make an example of him, the state is executing him.

    Of course this completely covers up the fact that he got the death penalty because he happened to kill a lot of women and was a serial killer.

    Anyway, as always an accurate summary of the article itself is too much to ask. Basically the guy is being prosecuted because it's felt that the purpose of his work was to allow people to play illegally copied games. He's got arguments against that that might hold up in court. But it's the whole possibility of infringing that has gotten him into trouble. It would probably be the same thing if jailbreaking an iPhone allowed you to download and use commercial apps without paying for them. Nobody in the government seems to care that he modified his console. It's the "now it can play pirated games" thing that got them interested.

  47. Re:Homeland Security? Seriously? by Quiet_Desperation · · Score: 1

    And, what on earth does it have to do with "Immigration and Customs"?

    What's sick is that here in California, some former maid of one candidate went on TV and admitted that she [1] was an illegal alien and [2] produced and used fraudulent Social Security documentation and driver's license, and committed identity theft, and not a peep out of ICE. Forget everything else about the sick little drama- a woman went on TV and confessed multiple felonies, but nothing happened because it does not run counter to the moneyed interests (who love sub-minimum wage labor that has no citizen rights).

    But modify a toy and offend a big company and, oh boy, look out. The G-men are all over that one.

  48. Please by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Less than 0.5% of US prisoners are in "privatized" prisons. The few "privatized" prisons are typically paid less per inmate than the cost of the competing government run institution.

  49. Re:Homeland Security? Seriously? by czmax · · Score: 1

    You might find it interesting to read Little Brother, by Cory Doctorow:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Brother_(Cory_Doctorow_novel)

    "[The protagonist] helps develop a clandestine wireless network, X-Net [so named because it is built on Xboxes], that avoids DHS monitoring using anonymity and encryption. Using the X-Net as a secure communications medium, he organizes teenagers and twenty-somethings who are upset with the police state tactics imposed after the [plot elements]. They develop innovative uses of existing technologies to foil DHS monitoring and cause mass confusion and embarrassment to law enforcement."

    I'm positive Homeland Security has read this book. They're probably just cracking down now before things get out of hand.

  50. Devil's in the details by mea37 · · Score: 1

    No doubt in my mind the anti-circumvention law is broken. It was from day one, and the need for a 3-year review of exclusions demonstrates this. A better law might simply make circumvention an aggrevating factor in an underlying act of infringement. I would even be ok with assigning liability to Person X who circumvents a copyright protection for Person Y, if Person X should reasonably expect that Person Y is going to use the circumvention to infringe a copyright.

    However, as of today the law is what it is. The attitude in TFS is ridiculous, and reflects an ignorance of the DMCA exemptions that is perpetuated every time we summarize this particular exemption is the "jailbreaking exemption".

    First, the exemption does very specfiically talk about mobile phone handsets and software on that type of device. You can call this arbitrary, but that's the result of overy-focused lobbying.

    More to the point, while the law does allow for inconsistencies, I'm not so sure this is one of them. After all, not every act of cell-phone jailbreaking is covered by the exemption, and I doubt a person running a business to jailbreak other peoples' phones would be able to shield himself with the exemption. You can argue whether that activity should be covered, but I'm willing to bet it's not.

    I point this out because this guy wasn't busted for jailbreaking his own console; he was busted for selling the service of jailbreaking others' consoles. The exception that covers the "app interoperability" part of jailbreaking specifies narrowly that the purpose must be legal, and while he says (with a wink and a nudge) that he won't aid pirates, I don't know that he can state any narrow purpose when he's not the one making use of the circumvention.

    And if that sounds backwards - that he should have to prove non-criminal intent - well, I believe that's the nature of an affirtmative defense, which is essentially what the exemptions are. The prosecution has to prove (beyond a reasonable doubt since this is a criminal charge) that he committed an act of circumvention, then I'm pretty sure it's up to him to prove that an exemption applied.

    All of this is a symptom of the underlying broken law, of course; but that's not to say that this guy would walk if the law were "right". If circumvention were a civil matter, and if it were only illegal when linked to an underlying act of infringement, then someone wanting to offer circumvention services might be able to write up contracts requiring the client ot state a legal intent and to indemnify the business against claims resulting from infringement related to the circumvention. I don't get the sense this guy was running that thorough a shop, though, which means he might still have ended up on the hook.

    1. Re:Devil's in the details by Arker · · Score: 1

      A better law might simply make circumvention an aggrevating factor in an underlying act of infringement.

      A better law would do the opposite, frankly. Just as you have to choose between copyright or trade secret protection, but cant get both, you should have to choose between copyright and DRM. Want copyright privileges? Dont use DRM. Use DRM? Fine, your choice, but you better do it well because if anyone beats it you will have no copyright to fall back on. That would be fair.

      Instead we get this FUBAR system designed by rent-seeking business lobbyists where companies use cheap, easily circumvented DRM to deny their customers the rights copyright law left them with, then use that as a legal ploy to prosecute those same customers with, for 'circumvention' which was required in order for the customer to exercise their rights under the law.

      Corruption of the law is not a good thing.

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    2. Re:Devil's in the details by mea37 · · Score: 1

      Hmm... so your example of why the law as I think it should be is wrong, is a circumstance that occurs under today's law but could not happen under the law as I think it should be. Typical.

      There is no reason that a content producer should have to choose between DRM and copyright protection. That's like saying that a homeowner should have to choose between locking his doors or having legal protection against home invasion.

      Fundamentally the fact that I take steps to prevent someone from violating my rights should not take away my legal protection of those rights if someone figures out how to violate them anyway. I stand by my position that the fact they had to take extra steps to overcome my protections should be recognized as an aggrevating factor.

      Trade secret vs. copyright is an entirely different situation. The raeson they are mutually exclusive is and always has been that they two bodies of law as originally conceived (and as they should be codified today) serve fundamentally incompatible goals.

    3. Re:Devil's in the details by Arker · · Score: 1

      There is no reason that a content producer should have to choose between DRM and copyright protection. That's like saying that a homeowner should have to choose between locking his doors or having legal protection against home invasion.

      No, actually, you are absolutely wrong. You are making an analogy between real property rights and legal privileges, as if they were equivelant, even while knowing damn well they arent. Typical. ;)

      The better analogy would be the one that I already gave you, between copyright privileges and trade secret privileges, since both are actually in the same broad category, and worlds away from a homeowner protecting real property rights.

      Trade secret vs. copyright is an entirely different situation. The raeson they are mutually exclusive is and always has been that they two bodies of law as originally conceived (and as they should be codified today) serve fundamentally incompatible goals.

      Let's look at that. The goal of copyright is (according to the US Constitution, at least) to promote progress in the useful arts and sciences. The original idea (now far corrupted) is that you encourage publication of works that might not otherwise be published, so that they will (eventually) enter the public domain rather than being lost for all time when the work is lost or destroyed. Since trade secrets defeat that purpose, they were (correctly) deemed incompatible with copyright - it's one or the other.

      The analogy is very nearly perfect to DRM. Both trade secret treatment and DRM, equally, defy the purpose of copyright! (So does allowing copyright on software without publication of source code, but that is another discussion.) Keeping your work a trade secret will prevent it from ever effectively entering the public domain (assuming you do so effectively) and DRM (under the same assumption) does the exact same thing! It also is used to circumvent all the relevant caveats of copyright law concerning fair use, of course.

      No, on the whole, I'd have to say my analogy is about as accurate as analogies ever are, while yours is wildly off the mark on every point.

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    4. Re:Devil's in the details by mea37 · · Score: 1

      I'm always amused by people who think 'real property rights' are anything other than legal privileges.

      That fact that you can't hold this discussion without invoknig superlatives to tell me how much you disagree says everything I need to know about the value of continuing to participate. Go on believing that the rights you most prefer are the only ones that count, and wonder why your will is not reflected in the law.

    5. Re:Devil's in the details by Arker · · Score: 1

      I'm always amused by people who think 'real property rights' are anything other than legal privileges.

      And I always feel sorry for people whose mental maps are so muddled and confused they cannot tell the difference between a right and a privilege. Do you ever find yourself trying to eat a menu, wondering why the portrait of your dessert doesnt actually taste sweet, or make you feel full?

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  51. for now... by tivoKlr · · Score: 1

    The feds are getting real itchy with all the aftermarket parts manufacturers "off-road use only" disclaimers, and I betcha we'll see a decline in the quantity of parts that provide an actual performance upgrade once they ban the "off-road" or "racing only" sales to regular folks... I've got some of ^^ on my car and it's a lot more fun! Conversely, I can say for sure it's more likely a heavier polluter than it was from the factory, but at 45mpg (still) and double the power from stock, I am disinclined to care.

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  52. RTFFP (read the first freakin' paragraph) by stewbacca · · Score: 1

    If you people would just read the first paragraph, you'd see this bit:

    [arrested] on accusations of running a home business of jailbreaking videogame consoles so they can play pirated games.

    He wasn't arrested for jail-breaking his xbox. But then again, this is slashdot. Summaries need not be accurate as long as the ends justify the means.

  53. Big Difference by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This guy was 'in business' to jailbreak 360s for people and make money at it. I think congress allowed people to DIY jailbreak their phones. If someone is making money jailbreaking phones for people and they are doing enough business to get noticed, they will face the threat of jail-time too.

    It's all about money and might. When you realize this and apply it to everything in life, you will be clairvoyant.

  54. Clear difference. by Narcogen · · Score: 1

    Why?

    Perhaps because it's easier to show legitimate non-infringing use of a jailbroken phone (use on compatible but unofficially supported operators) than it is for the Xbox (use for unsupported video codecs).

    Sure, people jailbreak both devices for illegitimate reasons: piracy of apps and games.

    Sure, people jailbreak both devices for legitimate reasons: adding functionality.

    I think the difference is that the iPhone is a quad band world phone. There's absolutely nothing to prevent it from working on the many, many compatible carriers worldwide except for Apple's contractual agreement with AT&T in the US, and the arbitrary and intentional restriction Apple has placed on the devices they sell in the US to support that agreement. Jailbreaking enables a fundamental freedom for the user: the ability to use on an operator of their choice, independent of Apple's contractual obligations.

    It is less clear that the non-infringing alternative uses for the Xbox are as fundamental, or that the restrictions you can circumvent by jailbreaking it are as arbitrary. It's not as if the Xbox 360 contains support for a lot of codecs other than WMV, but that these have been hidden or disabled-- they were never put into the device in the first place, unlike the GSM radio in the iPhone which is capable of supporting other operators besides AT&T. It's not as if the many hobbyist applications to which an Xbox 360 may be put are fundamental to the purpose and use of the device-- unlike a phone owner's choice of network.

    Phone jailbreaking enables a fundamental consumer choice that is part of having a free and transparent market for phones and phone service.

    What essential consumer choice does jailbreaking a console enable? What role do jailbroken consoles play in the marketplace?