R4 Cartridges Declared Illegal in the U.K.

[eljawa]

Rather, you should break all unjust laws

Eh...can't say as that's a great idea.

Bear in mind laws are created to uphold social values, just because you think something's ok doesn't mean society does.

Case in point: Uninsured drivers do so to avoid paying huge insurance fees, people hit by uninsured drivers are shit out of luck. Cannabis use isn't necessarily bad in and of itself, but look at smuggling (I come from a country where it's not native and won't grow in the wild even if introduced, not for more than four months or so anyway) and there are definitely victims of cannabis smugglers!

Your definition of 'unjust' isn't necessarily the same as everyone else's.

One word: Ghandi

my point was, look at people like ghandi. They broke laws to make positive change.
Sorry but no, Gandhi was the figurehead of the independence movement but was by no means alone.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_independence_movement

 

[eightbitsprite]

I personally don't know what to think. On one hand, R4s and other flashcarts can be used for non-illegal purposes, like homebrew games. On the other, I've never seen any of the people who have them ever use them for that purpose, instead just pirating games.

I've also noticed that the piracy arguments are popping up again. Guess everybody forgot about EC's piracy episode.

@Daydark
I notice you didn't answer the question, "So why do you think it is ok to get a paid version of a game for free?". I'm interested in hearing your answer.

 

[CrystalShadow]

This ruling seems a little bit weird to me. Somebody tell me if I'm misinterpreting it, but the implication seems to be that if you use a product in a way that the manufacturer disagrees with, then you're breaking the law. Because the R4 isn't inherently a piracy devise, right, it's just that it can be used for piracy?

Consider it part of the DMCA (Which england implements to some extent).
Which states that it is illegal to circumvent any technology designed to prevent unauthorised copying of copyrighted material.

It doesn't matter that it's not being used for such, the fact that an R4 needs to break such a protection mechanism to even be able to work, means it can be ruled to be an illegal device, because it circumvents a technological copyright protection mechanism.

Just the same as how Linux can't play DVD's without breaking any laws, because De-CSS circumvents copyright protection on DVD's, and is thus illegal by the terms of the DMCA.

 

[Sarcastic_Applause]

Well, if it makes Nintendo think they're going to make more money out of this, then good for them. Ignorance is bliss.

seeing as though their profits slumped 66%, they're going to need a LOOOT of ignorance. It seems really counter-productive to me in a way; i can understand them attempting to prevent video game piracy, but if anything that would stop people buying a DS in the first place and getting the chance to make their own games for use on the DS (a-la homebrew) which other major consoles are beginning to embrace in their motion controls like with The Kinect