Console Modder faces 10 years

LOS ANGELES — 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.

[Associated Press]

What do you think of his sentence? Fair or not?



Around The Net:


  • Jim

    Well, IANAL, so all I can do is assume that the law was interpreted correctly. From there, however, I would have to say that the law is too restrictive. Unless you are making money off of pirated games or are caught actually stealing them, I don’t think they should have the right to arrest you. Modifying hardware that you bought for whatever personal purpose you want spurs innovation, as well as fuels curiosity and interest in the way things work. I would never want someone to tell me it was illegal to take something apart.

  • Paul

    It should not be illegal to simply mod a console. There are many legitimate, perfectly legal uses for a modded console, from playing imported games and homebrew games to playing backed up copies of games you own – expressly permitted by US copyright law.

    It’s idiotic and dangerous for a company to be able to prosecute you for altering a piece of hardware you *own* just because you *might* use it for illegal purposes. Prosecute the pirates, not the modders.

  • Kaneco

    I believe he was modding for profit and as a business
    procedure. It should be free and should be dealt with
    in some way if opening a business for your own gain.

    Well the punishment for that as it is fore-mentioned
    seems pretty restrictive and harsh. =/

    I read this same article somewhere else, I believe he
    was modding systems for personal gain and as a business.