Sony takes on tinkering gamers


Sony failed to convince an Australian federal court that mod chips violate copyright law

From Kristie LuStout
CNN Tech Correspondent

HONG KONG, China (CNN) -- Sony is scoring a partial victory against video game fans who are ripping into their consoles, and making them do things the manufacturer never intended.

It's called "chipping" -- installing modification chips, or mod chips, that let gamers run imported software titles they would otherwise not be able to play.

"If you get that PlayStation chipped, then you can buy any American title, any Japanese title. Nine times out of ten (the game) comes out before it's actually officially launched," says Hong Kong-based gamer Rob Tinworth.

"So you suddenly go from having no games at all, even though you might be desperate to buy these things and more than happy to pay the proper price for them. The only way you can play the games is to play the pirated games, which is absurd."

TECHWATCH

Freedom to chip?

Last week in Canada, a man who sold PlayStation mod chips was fined $11,000 and sentenced to one year of probation.

A spokeswoman from Sony Computer Entertainment Japan told CNN they are in full support of the decision, adding "We recognize that mod chips exist in Asia and are working with local authorities to protect copyrights."

Many gamers understand the need for the copyright protection of software, but draw the line at the game box.

"If you buy a PC and change the video card, you're more than welcome to," says Tinworth.

"That's your right. You just bought your chips, they've arranged it in a certain way. Fantastic. But at the end of the day, I don't think you could copyright hardware."

Lawmakers in Australia seem to agree.

Sony failed to convince an Australian federal court that mod chips violate copyright law.

The court on Friday rejected Sony's claim for damages against a businessman who sold mod chips. The businessman, however, was found guilty of selling pirated games.

But the question remains -- after consumers purchase game consoles, do they have the right to modify or repair their own equipment?

While increasingly more tech hobbyists are calling to protect their "freedom to tinker," manufacturers like Sony or Microsoft say they will continue to use lawsuits to protect the integrity of their products.