RCMP says modifying a video game console punishable by ten years.

[Jinx_Dragon]

Not so sure if this was posted yet, did a quick look for it, but apparently Canada just went a little more insane:
http://network.nationalpost.com/NP/blogs/fpposted/archive/2010/04/07/fp-tech-desk-rcmp-says-modifying-a-video-game-console-punishable-by-10-years-in-jail.aspx

In short: the RCMP decided that modifying your game console is a kin to serious violation of electrical information systems! That is right, the Canada government has declared that modifying your game system falls under 342.1. To save you a quick check up online, that clause is better known to us laymen as 'hacking.'

So now you can go to jail for ten years along side the people who fake electronic data to defraud a bank or place worms in corporate databases to steal passwords and trade secrets... all because you wanted to play a game you purchased from your HDD without the disk.

Discuss?

 

[Chicago Ted]

So now you can go to jail for ten years along side the people who fake electronic data to defraud a bank or place worms in corporate databases to steal passwords and trade secrets... all because you wanted to play a game you purchased from your HDD without the disk.

Sorry, calling bullshit on that. Everyone I know who's modified their console has done it for one universal reason, piracy. Sure a couple people might do it for this reason, but honestly they can just get up and change the disc.

While I think the punishment is way to severe, I do believe people who are caught pirating should have some form of punishment associated with it. Why not just have them pay a fine instead? Wouldn't that be a lot more reasonable?

 

[Cabisco]

So now you can go to jail for ten years along side the people who fake electronic data to defraud a bank or place worms in corporate databases to steal passwords and trade secrets... all because you wanted to play a game you purchased from your HDD without the disk.

Sorry, calling bullshit on that. Everyone I know who's modified their console has done it for one universal reason, piracy. Sure a couple people might do it for this reason, but honestly they can just get up and change the disc.

While I think the punishment is way to severe, I do believe people who are caught pirating should have some form of punishment associated with it. Why not just have them pay a fine instead? Wouldn't that be a lot more reasonable?

I've got to agree with that, pirating is costing people a bomb and companies are having to lay off staff because of it. Even if the people modifying the console are not doing it to pirate games (all 40 of them globally) they will still know it is against the law and as such shouldn't be surprized when crime=punishment. Even if that punishment is too far.

 

[peel15]

How does this make Canada insane?
They're stopping people from pirating games so the comapnies that make games don't go out of buisness -.-

 

[Jinx_Dragon]

While I think the punishment is way to severe, I do believe people who are caught pirating should have some form of punishment associated with it. Why not just have them pay a fine instead? Wouldn't that be a lot more reasonable?

Exactly what we are talking about here, how it would be far more reasonable if you went after the major piracy cases with fines then putting them in jail for more time then someone who stabs people.

But a lot of people do mod game systems for a wider range of reasons then just piracy. Hell, they (room mates) are talking about people who have modded consoles to do insane things, like playing Atari consoles in HD or put PC components in NES systems. That doesn't even touch on people who play out of country games, which you need a mod chip to get around the 'strange' formatting. All that falls under this abuse of the law. But how about this one: If you put a larger HDD in your PS3... you broke this law! That is how vague it is.

Besides, none of this touches on the major fact that piracy is a CIVIL case, not a criminal one. That means fines, not prison time, and of course 'compensation' if you breach the licence agreement and make copies of games. Yet we are not focusing on the games themselves, or the people who sell them, but on systems that are no longer the identical to the shelf versions sitting in a store... as CRIMINAL charges!

Added: For those who want a laugh at the, now, master criminals with their HD pong I give you: Atari modification chips.
http://www.8bitdomain.com/index.php

 

[SantoUno]

The punishment may be a little too extreme, but then again this will do some needed good. I mean who honestly mods their console for anything else BESIDES pirating?

 

[Rauten]

How does this make Canada insane?
They're stopping people from pirating games so the comapnies that make games don't go out of buisness -.-

Because, for pirating -1- system, you can get up to 10 years of prison. I'd like to know just how much cash you'd actually have to rob to get such a harsh penalty, but I'm rather sure it's WAY above the cash the companies would lose cause of your piracy.

Punishment ok? yes.

10 years of incarceration for it? CANADA IS ON FREAKING CRACK.

 

[AceDiamond]

Only problem I have here is the length of the punishment. I'm guessing it's so they can hand out a few of these in the hopes to discourage modders. Doesn't make it fitting though.

EDIT: Also I know someone who modded their Xbox so they could do Halo 2 Machinima through a trainer program, so there, granted, is one extremely grey-area non-piracy reason for console modification, something I doubt that gets done often.

 

[Altorin]

McGruff the Crime Dog Sez:

Piracy is for the PC only!

 

[Adzma]

Canada just got a warning strike next to its name. I'm running out of countries to flee to if mine goes down the toilet. If I want to mod my console, fuck off I'm going to. I wouldn't use my Wii otherwise, else its nothing more than an expensive paperweight.

 

[Sev72]

Well Canada has what, 200 people in it? Ubisoft employs at least 50 people, thats one fourth of their population. Of course they have to protect the video game industry or where else would their GDP come from?

 

[TheTim]

The punishment may be a little too extreme, but then again this will do some needed good. I mean who honestly mods their console for anything else BESIDES pirating?

Uhm i would, i would enjoy renting a game then downloading it to my hard drive and returning it being able to play it when i would like (unless that is piracy then i agree with you)

 

[The Madman]

Maximum sentence =/= sentence given

You *can* get life in prison for a number of relatively minor things should the right conditions apply, that doesn't mean you *will*. Similarly, just because there's now a proper law for it hardly means it'll be enforced.

This is just political chest-pounding because of that whole 'Canada is a haven for piracy' thing that went out awhile back! Relax!

 

[frago roc]

QFT from the comments on that 'article'

Listen up People!

My wife is a law and ethics professor. This article if full of lie's and half truths.

First of all the kids' in trouble because it appears he was distributing copyright matierial he didn't own. Not a little but a lot!

Second of all "Modifying a console and computer is considered an illegal act under section" is the biggest lie of all from Mr RCMP fool.

Cops are always trying to enforce new laws that won't hold up in court. This is because Canadian citizens have the "Charter of Rights" that protects us from power hungry politicians pushing infringing legislation on are GOD GIVEN RIGHTS!

Their has never been a Canadian found guilty for only modding/ programming a console, let alone a toaster.

Just because you mod a console doesn't mean or PROVE your pirating anything! Your well within you rights, just like breathing Air.

BTW..If you think modding things you own should be illegal your a mindless SHEEP! Sorry your mad, Go bow down to your masters.

 

[Enigmers]

Here's the thing, though - how are you going to know you modded your console? I think the cops have better things to do - unless there is evidence of you using your console to hack (in which case you will be thrown in Prison for not using a PC for that sort of thing, you insane person, you.)

 

[The_Ghost_Ninja]

Maximum sentence =/= sentence given

/Thread
everything else itt is just Drama.

Example, are they going door to door to have a few rounds of Halo to see if you've got aim bot or to check your Purchase history for traces of game sharing?
Also Companies take it upon themselves to deal with Minor offenses.

"If I were to change my HDD"
(Re)read the terms of use.

Population of Canada: 34,061,000 (Thanks Wikipedia)

 

[Fappy]

I don't see how they can justify jail time. A hefty fine on par with copyright infringement yes, but not jail time.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

Since when was it the RCMP's obligation to inspect video game consoles?

Sometimes I worry about what they get up to. They have somewhat of a bad rep in our country, and I don't trust them.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

Well Canada has what, 200 people in it? Ubisoft employs at least 50 people, thats one fourth of their population. Of course they have to protect the video game industry or where else would their GDP come from?

The rest of them work for Bioware and Relic. So I don't know who this will affect. Might be Jimmy, but he's been sour ever since he got fired for bringing his anime body pillow to work.