U.S. Customs Raid Targets Videogame Piracy

[Misiowiec]

So wait let me get this straight. You are not allowed to mod your own console or consoles that you own?

Next you'll be hearing U.S. Customs Raid Targets PC users that install virtual drives because that can be used to do harm......

Well, some games already do these checks which should be outlawed in itself. I mean, not everything you do with Daemon Tools is illegal, at least 1-2% is perfectly ok!

Btw DaMulta, who's the lady in your avatar? I recognise her from somewhere.

 

[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

 

[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.

 

[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.

 

[pead929]

YOu mod your guitars? i build them pre-modded i make custom electrics. You should hear about my next build.

 

[Flint]

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.

I agree with you on both. It just seems lately that the quality of life has been moved backstage.

 

[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!

 

[mdm-adph]

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!

Do you have to smuggle that stuff? Can you not declare it as a gift?

 

[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

 

[ChaoticBlankness]

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

Well that's it folks! What's another country to live in, I'm fed up with mine?

 

[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.

 

[pead929]

-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

 

[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.

 

[WarEagleAU]

well apparently piracy costs americans more money than illegal immigration...

 

[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....

 

[mullered07]

Wow, that was weird.

its off american werewolf in london, one of my fav films

 

[Dippyskoodlez]

hehe... 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.

 

[Wile E]

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.

Yay for propaganda!! /sarcasm

Man, I really hate that. It's spewed at me all week long at work.

 

[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.
http://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.

 

[russianboy]

you registered just to bitch?

your gonna have lots of "fun" here.

 

[Dippyskoodlez]

Even a US Senators wife is stopped.

Real good system they have right thar.