Charlie_PS2 found guilty
 

EUCD laws deliver Europe's most comprehensive ruling yet against mod chip devices


Sony has won a landmark case in the British High Court, with a judge ruling that the sale of mod chip devices for the PlayStation 2 is illegal under the UK's implementation of the new European Union Copyright Directive.

The case was taken against David Ball (aka Charlie_PS2), who had sold some 1,500 Messiah 2 mod chips to customers around the UK. The chips circumvented the built-in protection of the PS2 and allowed the console to play pirate and imported games.

The judge in the case, Mr Justice Laddie, ruled that Mr Ball had acted unlawfully in selling the chips, and went on to state that the use of the chips, advertising them or possessing them for commercial purposes are also illegal.

This is one of the most comprehensive rulings against mod chips to be made in the UK, or anywhere in Europe, and it is the first to be brought since the UK adopted a version of the European Union Copyright Directive (EUCD) laws late last year.

"This case, together with the recent successful criminal case against chippers in Belgium, confirms in the clearest possible terms that Sony Computer Entertainment Europe has the right to protect the illegal infringement of our intellectual property rights, and those of third party game developers," according to SCEE president David Reeves. "We are sending a clear message to manufacturers and distributors of mod chips throughout the PAL territories that we will continue to pursue legal action against them."

cud he not argue he was selling them for backup use only allow the users to back up their games enabling them to not scratch the orginals etc...

He sud of said he was selling them with backup use in mind only and all clients where told so.

I would have thought he sold way more than 1,500 chips. What was his sentence?

he proberly did, they just did not find out, or have any proof to prove so. I reackon he has got 4 years (if its a jail term) no idea if he has to pay damages etc, that cud be the roof, but with the amount he sold, he sud be well off, lol

Yeah this was posted in the Chit Chat section yesterday.

http://www.fileforums.com/showthread.php?t=62999




Tyler!

I really hope ever thing works out for the best for Charlie. Hopefully they won’t put the screws to him to bad. I’m wondering how this will affect modchips not only in the UK but every where else.

Since Sony won won in the UK, they mite try and come after the US next. I’m sure they are looking into it very hard to find some loop hole in the DMCA. Just another reason the DMCA needs to be burned.

Also wondering how this will affect XBox modchips in the UK. Think Bill will try and make an example out of some one as well?

Im not too worried about the US version court dates. I know our US lawyers are a bit more sly.



Tyler!

That sucz.Yet again Sony the Multinational bully one guy. It's really sad an I feel sry for charlie. Out of all the mod chip installers why pick on him?

Don't sony realise how much homebrew software there is out there that is unusable without a modchip.

Also I thought it was legal to be able to back up your own software for your own personal use. I assume Sony will be providing some alternative means for doing this or offering free replacement software for damaged discs??

They suck big time. PS3 or Xbox2? Am getting really swayed the other way!

Legal to own backups or not is not the point, Sony is just trying to make a statement!

Sony's been making Lord knows how much money off us gamers already so what's a few mod-chips going do? Better stock up on them chips before it's too late :p

They picked on Charlie because he was the front-man. I do wish him luck but unfortunately I doubt he has a lot of fun comming his way for a while.


@ToyFigure,

Thats exactly my point. With that in mind Im sure there is no way Sony can get rid of modchips altogether in the States. We have the more bloodthirsty and sleaziest lawers in the world.



Tyler!

The reason why is beacause he was a distrbutor of the m2 he was like a main guy in the company if u know what i mean.

he was a distributor but he wasnt the main guy, charlie couldnt even install a chip, he was like a spokesman for team messiah. I dont have all the facts but from what i hear Team messiah disappeared and left charlie holding the bag.This is the reason i reguard the new messiah chip a fake.

damn, all i can say is that I hope time passes fast for him. Sometimes the law can be completely unfair, no matter how good the apposing arguement is. Some things have gotten way out of hand in the terms of technology and what is really important in life. I hope things turn out as good as they can for him.

If what you say is true Warlock, then I lost all respect for team messiah.

Like i said, i dont have all the facts, I also wish him the best. As people say, nothing very good or very bad lasts very long so hopefully this will pass quickly for him.

does anyone know his sentence? (jail?/re-embustment?)

Thats a bit tight, of wat the messiah team have done, if true, if he knows their names he sud hand them in, as he wud get a shorter sentence.