Banned forever?

[Charles Lindsey]

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/1,3973,728390,00.asp

Users who have added "mod chips" to their XBox video game consoles are finding themselves banned from Microsoft's

"XBox Live" service. According to this article from The Register, XBox Live immediately downloads a program to users' XBoxes which rifles through the system looking for unauthorized changes to the hardware. If any are found, the machine is cut off from the online service and from future updates... forever. If the box is later sold, the purchaser will find that s/he cannot have the ban removed.

A similar sort of "digital self-help" was contemplated in UCITA, a law -- rejected by most state legislatures -- intended to allow software and hardware developers to forcibly disable products remotely if they believed a license had been violated. Fortunately, in this case Microsoft is not disabling the XBoxes entirely; nonetheless, it is still penalizing users who want to run alternative software on their machines.

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Thoughts?

I think if you own something you should be able to modify it anyway you like. However, I also think Microsoft has the right to ban modified machines from their network.

Had they disabled the machines entirely I would be more than a little upset for XBox owners. They will probably start adding that little program to disks so that if you buy a game and the software discovers the machine is modified it won't play it.

[Supreme Cmdr]

quote:

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Originally posted by Cmdr Chavik:

nonetheless, it is still penalizing users who want to run alternative software on their machines.

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Nothing wrong with that. People should read the fine print. If the manufacturer doesn't allow you to tinker with a closed system. Don't. And if you feel so bad about it, don't buy it. Simple I think.

[Epsilon 5]

I have no problem with that - however Gabe on PA raised an issue - and I agree with - about those hackers.

quote:

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A few people have mailed me telling me that whether I like it or not these hackers being banned does affect me. They sent me links to

this site

which claims that there is a way to change the serial number of your system and get around the Live lockout. People are telling me that since MS is banning these guys they are forced to change their serial numbers and in so doing may inadvertently take my serial number thereby getting my account banned. The jist is that they should just be allowed to connect to Live in the first place. I am sorry but that is bullshit. That is like saying drunk drivers shouldn't get their cars towed off because then they will just have to steal another car and they may steal yours!

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[Charles Lindsey]

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Nothing wrong with that.

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I agree. There is nothing wrong with Microsoft disallowing hacked machines from their network.

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If the manufacturer doesn't allow you to tinker with a closed system.

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Now we got a small problem. It's my system. I own a physical product. I can do with it whatever the * I like.

If I want my XBox to be a toaster it can darn well be a toaster. If I want to mod my XBox to play PS2 discs I can do that as well. However I could never sell that tech or tell anone about it. But so long as it's in my home ....

[DraconisRex]

quote:

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Originally posted by Supreme Cmdr:

quote:

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Originally posted by Cmdr Chavik:

nonetheless, it is still penalizing users who want to run alternative software on their machines.

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Nothing wrong with that. People should read the fine print. If the manufacturer doesn't allow you to tinker with a closed system. Don't. And if you feel so bad about it, don't buy it. Simple I think.

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My only problem with most license agreements is that the license is printed inside the package. Basically, if you open the package, then you are bound by the license, without knowing what you have agreed to, in most cases.

Reminds of the instructions I found in several Army products...

1) Open Box

2) Get out instructions

3) Read instructions

4) Put phone together....

I concur that Microsoft has the right to keep modified X-Boxes from going on their network, but if they were to disable the actual units, they would find themselves being sued quite a bit. The sheer force of lawsuits, especially if from multiple districts, would put a nice little dent in their profit-sharing plans, even if they won those cases.

I think that's why they haven't gone that far (yet...) Personally, I think that any contractual agreement, including license agreements, should be clearly printed on the exterior of the box, or have a guarantee of return within 10-days of purchase (or something to that effect.)

I'm not against vendors protecting their wares. I just feel that, since a license agreement is a contract, their should be some way of knowing what you can and can't do before you make a high-dollar purchase..... (An X-box is $200 -- I've never looked at the package, so I don't know if it tells you what is expected with the purchase....)

[CedricB]

I'm sure if you ask nicely, someone will be more than happy to provide you with a EULA for the Xbox.

1. Kicking Hackers

There is NO GOOD REASON to mod the Xbox and MS knows it. The latest fad seems to be just to be able to watch DVDs from other regions in violation of trade/copyright laws. If you attempt this kind of illegal activity, you sure as heck aren't going to get a ticket to ride the Xbox LIVE train, I'll tell you that much.

2. Owning what you buy.

You read the EULAs for your games yes? MANY EULAs carry small passages about not disassembleing, de-compiling, modifying, or altering anything. On many products, as soon as you even crack the case open, all your warranties go out the window. You can't modify your car outside the boundries of the law. Try and alter your cable box that you bought and see what the cable company thinks of that.

My 2 sheckels