Piracy hurts the interest and intellectual property rights of game
companies which put a lot of money into developing games, says
Microsoft.
http://computertimes.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,5104,2720,00.html?
Changes to Singapore's copyright laws may make it hard for gamers
to buy modified game consoles and play pirated games
The days of playing bootleg games on a modified Xbox or
Playstation2 game console may soon be over for many gamers
here.
From next year, dealers may not be allowed to sell mod chips that
get around the copy-protection mechanism in game consoles here
because of changes to the Copyright Act.
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The proposed amendments are expected to be read in Parliament in
the next few months and will take effect on Jan 1 next year, Mr
Wong Sheng Kwai, assistant director-general of the Intellectual
Property Office of Singapore, told Computer Times.
Singapore is tightening its copyright protection laws as part of
its Free Trade Agreement obligations with the United States.
Mod chips are already outlawed in the US, the United Kingdom and
Hong Kong.
Piracy hurts the interest and intellectual property rights of game
companies which put a lot of money into developing games, says
Microsoft.
The changes are a significant update to Singapore's copyright laws,
said lawyers interviewed.
'Consumers can still obtain modded consoles in the market, but this
will be more difficult in future because of the new rules,' said
lawyer Adrian Kwong.
Today, many gamers 'mod' -Â or modify - their game consoles so they
can play pirated games on them.
But when the new rules kick in, it may be hard to find stores which
offer such modding services because they will be illegal.
Illegal mods
A significant number of gamers are buying original games so they
can log on to the Xbox Live multiplayer service.
A person who sells mod chips that circumvent copy-protection
technology, or offers such a commercial 'modding' service can be
fined for up to $20,000 or jailed for up to two years or both,
according to lawyers.
Mod chips and 'modding' services are currently not illegal.
For console makers like Microsoft and Sony, the new rules signal an
important victory because most of their revenue is earned from
games and not the hardware itself. If people don't buy original
games, it means a dent in their earnings.
Outlawed chips
Piracy hurts the interests and intellectual property rights of game
companies which put a lot of money into developing games, said Mr
Alex Chua, home and entertainment division manager at
Microsoft.
He declined to say how many Xbox owners here mod their consoles,
but noted that a significant number of gamers are buying original
games so they can log on to the Live multiplayer service.
For console owners, the good news is that the new rules are
targeted at dealers. So people who already own a modded Xbox won't
be breaking the law.
'As long as they do not commercially exploit, that is, sell or rent
out, their modified game console, it is unlikely that they will be
in breach of the proposed amendment to the law,' said lawyer Cyril
Chua, who specialises in intellectual property.
But as with all copyright protection schemes, people who don't want
to pay for software will be finding ways to get around the
law.
Reflecting the 'bootleg mentality', an Xbox owner, who asked to
remain anonymous, said he would just go to a neighbouring country
to buy a mod chip if it is illegal in Singapore.
The question now is whether gamers will find new means to get their
habitual dose of pirated fun. Or will they respect the value of
intellectual property and pay for it?
