If you read the IP provisions of the US FTA then it will come as no surprise that we have new laws to make illegal and fine what should be basic property rights (I buy something, I should be allowed to make any modifications I like to it, esp for private home use). This says that it will not include circumventing region coding, I guess this is because they couldn’t afford to make everyone who uses a DVD, ie most of their electorates, into criminals for what so obviously has nothing to do with copy infringement and everything to do with market control. I’d like to see whether this does allow modchippers to continue, in that much of modchipping isn’t just so people can play pirate disks, but so that you can play games bought overseas or through the internet, or whether it will be restricted to dvds. Also there is no mention of the status of modchipping for different platforms (ie so you can play a legally obtained Xbox game on your legally obtained PlayStation). I’m so sick of justifiable private use being made into a crime. And I’m even more sick of the way that private companies have conned governments into being their protectors of their commercial, but anti-competitive policies. Ugh!
New laws target modchip users - Games - Technology - smh.com.au

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