The man who was the first person convicted for chipping a games console under the 2003 Copyright Directive has been been sentenced to 140 hours community service:
A 22-year-old man has become the first person in the UK to be convicted for modifying a video games console.
The Cambridge graduate was sentenced at Caerphilly Magistrates Court to 140 hours of community service.
The man had been selling modified Xbox consoles which he fitted with a big hard drive containing 80 games.
"This case sets a major precedent which marks a milestone in the fight against piracy," said games industry spokesman Michael Rawlinson.
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Ok - so 140 hours CS isn't exactly hard time breaking rocks - but it does show that the Powers That Be are serious in prosecuting people under this law. So if you do have a 'modified' XBOX, stuffed to the gunnels with games, don't try selling it on the for sale forum. You never know who's watching, and you may just get your collar felt by an ELSPA swat team...
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