DMS 3 legality

[knowledgeiv]

I'm new to the PS2 scene, so I am unsure of the legality of PS2 mods. I know that some of the BIOS avaiilable for Xbox console mods are illegal, since they are built using M$ copyrighted code.

I am against piracy, but don't see anything wrong with installing a modchip to unlock more features from a console...although M$ or Sony would likely say otherwise.

So here is my question:
Is the DMS 3 shipped blank or is the programming on the chip completely legal (In the USA)?

...I have searched and will continue to search, but have yet to find a definative answer on this.

[UltraDude]

the DMS3 does not flash the ps2 bios..only its own to upgrade the chip...if you are really concerned about legalty..why install a mod? it's illegal..dont matter what u see of it. LMAO

[knowledgeiv]

I am really just worried about reselling the DMS 3.

I know I am probably over-reacting, but ISONEWS just got shutdown: http://www.cybercrime.gov/rocciPlea.htm
But they were selling an Enigma modchip (with illegal BIOS) on a site dedicated to warez. I'm sure it was a combination of the 2 which caused the shutdown, but I just can't be too careful.

If there is any chance at all that the DMS 3 is not legal in the US for resell, I'll refuse the shipment and take it off my site.

[knowledgeiv]

[everyone points and laughs at the n00b]

Yea, it was the part about the Sony BIOS code being used in the DMS 3 that I wasn't sure about, but that's what I thought. I feel much more at ease now.

[/everyone points and laughs at the n00b]

I never actually visited ISONEWS until today...I'm really surprised they lasted this long. The part that got me worked up about the whole thing was the fact that it was about modchips. But I also just read on there that it was just the one guy who got busted...the other staff over there had told him that selling mods on the site was a bad idea and the DOJ proved them right.

[Yu-Gi-Oh!]

A "mod" device can be or it may not be "illegal", it depends if such law(s) are in effect in your hometown!

[huh! illegal... nah! good for the economy! Yep!]

Hmmm...

Yu-Gi-Oh!

[crimsonghost]

Technically they are against the law according to the DCMA. On slashdot there are many people with lots of knowledge you can read the forums on the subject for more information.

[knowledgeiv]

From my understanding, it would be how the end user used such a device which would make it illegal according to the DCMA. Or in other words...how the reseller advertises that product to be used by the end user.

Personally, I want a DMS 3 modded PS2 to run apps off a memory card...like the media player. I'm not sure what the DCMA would say about that. Also, I just want something new to mod for the fun of it.

[precisionmods]

Yeah, the ISONEWS thing had me second thinking what we are doing but a few things come to mind:

1. We don't make the chips. I have no ideal how they work, I just solder according to the diagrams.
2. There are many things that can be used for illegal activity. Guns, cars, knives, etc. You cannot control what the person does with their console after you mod it.

[knowledgeiv]

precisionmods, that's the way I see it too, but the real question is... how Sony or M$ sees it.

I've just been doing some reading on the DCMA and it's a really f@#$ed up law...makes me feel like I'm in a communist country or something. Except instead of every aspect of life being run by the government, it's being run by big corporations like Sony and M$.

[KillerSpaz]

I would say that the manufactoring/production/marketing of a "mod" product is not illegal in its own... however, the USE of the product does represent an illegal content... That is, you're using it to play copied games, correct? There'd really be no other reason... You know just as well as I do that if you buy a game, it's most likely going to last you the length of the gaming system, if not longer.... Especially if you mod it!!