Guy is facing 10 years for modding consoles

[Lbelle]

Student Facing 10 Years For Modding Game Consoles - cbs13.com

LOS ANGELES (AP) ―

A Southern California college student has been arrested on federal charges that he illegally modified video game consoles to enable the machines to play pirated video games.

The U.S. Attorney's Office says 27-year-old Matthew Crippen was released Monday night after posting $5,000 bond.

The California State University, Fullerton student who lives in Anaheim is accused of modifying Xbox, PlayStation and Wii consoles in violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents got a tip from the Entertainment Software Association and searched Crippen's home in May.

He was indicted on two counts by a federal grand jury. Crippen faces 10 years in prison if convicted and is scheduled for arraignment on Aug. 10.

Attempts to reach Crippen for comment were unsuccessful.

I suppose he should get a smack on the wrist for it, but 10 years?

[Cephius]

He was probably selling them. Highly doubt they'd go after someone who just modded a single psp or some shit

[Kurokikaze]

10 years... For that?! Sounds a bit excessive. Sounds like one of those guys you go to and have your shit modded for a fee. Still though...

[Zosi]

That's exactly what he was doing, which is why he's liable for *criminal* copyright infringement. He had a little business going, they found "more than a dozen" modded consoles when they raided his place. It's interesting that 90% of the news stories are aimed more at generating outrage - they completely omit mention that he was doing it for personal gain, and try to portray it as "OMG he got arrested for modding his Xbox!". Here's one of the few articles I've seen that mentions that:

Cal State Student Arrested for Playing with Video Games | NBC Dallas-Fort Worth

[Alvinho]

That's the most common thing in the gaming world down here in Brazil. Even legit stores sell 'em like that, like it's legal, and nobody does anything about it. Kinda funny hearing someone is getting 10 years for it, but not "HA HA" funny.

[Pikarya]

Considering I know ALOT of people that used to run small jobs by doing this for a wide array of consoles/systems. Its kinda sad to see him get punished to that extent.

[Plow]

Man this was freaking me out for a minute, I had a good friend when I was younger, who would be 27 now, named Robert Crippen, and his brother's name was Matthew. I was totally thinking Matthew was the younger one and this might be him >.>

10 years is freaking crazy. Have to wonder what kind of quantity we're looking at here.

[Rafbacca]

He should just start selling drugs instead. He would probably face less jail time.

[Senoska]

Since when is enforcing private copyrights(Not even breaking them but allowing others to?) worthy of prison time?

[Melena]

Since the government decided it's easier to crack down on the source instead of the users.

[Qalbert]

that's why I mod my friends PSPs for sexual favors, instead of cash

[Senoska]

Since the government decided it's easier to crack down on the source instead of the users.

So should we shut down the people that program p2p clients or people that use them to do illegal things? Modchips are not only for playing downloaded games.

[Cephius]

that's why I mod my friends PSPs for sexual favors, instead of cash

So you'll get busted for modding consoles, and for prostitution!

[Avanarius]

that's why I mod my friends PSPs for sexual favors, instead of cash

gift cards, man, gift cards are where its at.

[Mizango]

He was probably selling them. Highly doubt they'd go after someone who just modded a single psp or some shit

Exactly what I was thinking. I've been modding my shit since SNES.

[Katlan]

It is a federal offense, and if you are doing it for profit and being a dumbass who broadcasts about it... well yeah, your gonna be fucked. I doubt they would go after somebody who modded a few console's for friends and made a little extra spending cash. But yeah, 10 years seems pretty extreme since more serious offenses get less

[orson]

He should just start selling drugs instead. He would probably face less jail time.

Seems like Game/Movie/Music companies are getting more clout then what actually causes problems in our society. Good old lobbyists misplacing tax dollars.

[Priran]

"hey man what are you in for"

[Pikarya]

Moddan teh vidya, you?

[Mizango]

"hey man what are you in for"

Moddan teh vidya, you?

lol I can imagine how that would go over.