Thursday, August 2nd 2007

U.S. Customs Raid Targets Videogame Piracy

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents searched more than 30 businesses and homes across 16 states looking for mod-chips and swap-discs which allow users to play pirated titles on popular gaming consoles. Officials say these devices are created with the intent of subverting copy protections and not only cost legitimate businesses billions of dollar but include other crimes such as smuggling, software piracy and money laundering. The names of those who are accused of violating the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 were not released.
Source: pcworld
Add your own comment

45 Comments on U.S. Customs Raid Targets Videogame Piracy

#26
HAL7000
We all take chances in life with the expectation of recourse.

As for the immigration problem, well the US is the great melting pot, and liberals want to keep the illegals to be their bitch servants/ employees.....and the conservatives are to busy covering up there illegals with a silk sheet ....... its unfortunate
Posted on Reply
#27
pead929
I have an idea. The average video game costs about the same amount to produce as a some feature films. How about the game developers stop developing awful games that aren't worth paying for? I buy all my games because i like having hard-copies but sometimes i just wish i stole it so i didn't waste my money!

Same could be said about the music industry. Homeland security should do their job and protect the HOMELAND. They're protecting industry and not the citizens.
Posted on Reply
#28
oldcrank
pead929,
If the National Guard wasn't busy in Iraq, they would have been used. I wouldn't be surprised if the U.S. Parks rangers didn't show up. It's the money that gets protected, not the people. I have a flash for them: I mod everything that I own, from my cars and bikes to my guitars. I'm doing a case mod that I wish I'd never started, though - I seem to make it worse everything that I do. It might be time to punt.
Posted on Reply
#29
pead929
YOu mod your guitars? i build them pre-modded :) i make custom electrics. You should hear about my next build.
Posted on Reply
#30
Flint
pead929I have an idea. The average video game costs about the same amount to produce as a some feature films. How about the game developers stop developing awful games that aren't worth paying for? I buy all my games because i like having hard-copies but sometimes i just wish i stole it so i didn't waste my money!

Same could be said about the music industry. Homeland security should do their job and protect the HOMELAND. They're protecting industry and not the citizens.
I agree with you on both. It just seems lately that the quality of life has been moved backstage.
Posted on Reply
#31
russianboy
I'm still smuggling stuff out of russia though!

$3 for FEAR can't be beat!

There was a shop in Moscow airport Sheremetyvo that sold HL2 for $10, moscow is extremely expensive, you can't buy a full meal for that much!
Posted on Reply
#32
mdm-adph
russianboyI'm still smuggling stuff out of russia though!

$3 for FEAR can't be beat!

There was a shop in Moscow airport Sheremetyvo that sold HL2 for $10, moscow is extremely expensive, you can't buy a full meal for that much!
Do you have to smuggle that stuff? Can you not declare it as a gift?
Posted on Reply
#33
OnBoard
The news on this site makes you believe they targeted kids with their modded PS2s and I was like "wtf, now they've gone too far" xD

"...as agents looked for evidence of the importation, sale and distribution of the modification devices made overseas and smuggled into the country."

This gives you a little different idea :)
Posted on Reply
#34
ChaoticBlankness
Easy RhinoImmigration and Customs Enforcement agents searched more than 30 businesses and homes across 16 states looking for mod-chips and swap-discs which allow users to play pirated titles on popular gaming consoles. Officials say these devices are created with the intent of subverting copy protections and not only cost legitimate businesses billions of dollar but include other crimes such as smuggling, software piracy and money laundering. The names of those who are accused of violating the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 were not released.

Source: pcworld
Well that's it folks! What's another country to live in, I'm fed up with mine?
Posted on Reply
#35
Mirage
-dramatic eye roll- I find it sad that our government finds this to be one of its more pressing matters. I mean, it isn't like we are in a war, trying to keep out illegal aliens, and have a terrible health care system, or anything like that.
Posted on Reply
#36
pead929
Mirage-dramatic eye roll- I find it sad that our government finds this to be one of its more pressing matters. I mean, it isn't like we are in a war, trying to keep out illegal aliens, and have a terrible health care system, or anything like that.
War? what war i don' see no war. Health care?....hippy :)
Posted on Reply
#37
oldcrank
The modification devices are boards made in Taiwan and "smuggled" into the USA by mail, labeled toys. While this may be illegal, ICE has duties that I find more important, such as stopping drug traffic and terrorists. It is all about the money.
Posted on Reply
#38
WarEagleAU
Bird of Prey
well apparently piracy costs americans more money than illegal immigration...
Posted on Reply
#39
newconroer
Eagle, if statistically that's true, then I might just pass out.

The American government spends upwards of four hundred billion dollars, to faciliatate illegal immigrants and non-citizens. It also spends upwards of two hundred million dollars on illegal immigrants and non-citzens who are in some stage of the correctional facility.


If piracy has become that bad, it's time we take matters into our own hands, and just start bitch smacking teenagers and young people at random. When they say 'what the hell was that for!?!?!?!' Simply reply "in case you pirate software and music, I just wanted to let you know, it's not ok!"

Slowly but surely....
Posted on Reply
#40
mullered07
demonbrawn:wtf: Wow, that was weird.
its off american werewolf in london, one of my fav films :rockout:
Posted on Reply
#41
Dippyskoodlez
tkpenaltyhehe... mod chips are legal here in Australia.
Mod chips themselves are legal in most places.

Its the piracy portion thats illegal.

What we have here is typical "scare the consumer" selective reporting.
Posted on Reply
#42
Wile E
Power User
DippyskoodlezMod chips themselves are legal in most places.

Its the piracy portion thats illegal.

What we have here is typical "scare the consumer" selective reporting.
Yay for propaganda!! /sarcasm

Man, I really hate that. It's spewed at me all week long at work.
Posted on Reply
#43
kydsid
Been a long time fan but never registered till today because I feel no one here understands this action by ICE. And to correct the glaring mistakes said by many people.



1. Get real people. Criminals or terrorists will use any method to make money - INCLUDING SELLING MOD CHIPS, PIRATED GAMES, etc. Take a look. www.rand.org/pubs/rgs_dissertations/2005/RAND_RGSD185.pdf


2. I doubt they raided mom and pop in the suburbs. This sounds like they went after distributors and if you can rationalize having a 1000 mod chips, or whatever number, as just for your amusement, go ahead.

3. Buying a airline ticket online does not exempt you from an ID requirement. Heres a factoid all airlines are required to check your name against the TSA No Fly list. What do you think they do if they find a match? Even a US Senators wife is stopped.
www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8MNE7DG0&show_article=1

4. All cargo in international or interstate movement on aircraft can be searched.

5. ICE is part of DHS. Yes priority is terrorism but the agency name is Immigration AND Customs Enforcement. Guess that means if you break a Customs law (duh, importing illegal goods) that ICE will have to be the agency that comes after you since its there jurisdiction.

6. Regardless of what you or I think about mod chips and if they should be illegal they are and these men and women are just doing there job.


To sum it up, stop bitching and thinking that by cracking down on piracy they AREN'T protecting you from terrorists.
Posted on Reply
#44
russianboy
you registered just to bitch?

your gonna have lots of "fun" here.
Posted on Reply
#45
Dippyskoodlez
kydsidEven a US Senators wife is stopped.
Real good system they have right thar. ;)
Posted on Reply
Add your own comment
May 5th, 2024 14:56 EDT change timezone

New Forum Posts

Popular Reviews

Controversial News Posts