Jari Ketola
28 Apr 2004 14:41
A Spanish judge has ruled that selling modchips and modchip installation services for PlayStation 2 and Xbox game consoles is legal in the country. A modchip allows a console user to play DVD movies and games from other countries, as well as copies of games.
A Barcelona video games shop Innovagames was charged for offering modchip installation services, but the judge ruled that thanks to a loophole in the Spanish intellectual property law, the modchips are legal by default.
According to The Register the loophole exists in article 270 of the penal code, which rules cracking computer programs illegal, but does not cover video game consoles or other home entertainment devices, such as DVD-players.
One could say that the case was won on a technicality.
Source: The Register