College Student Hauled Off for Hacking Game Consoles
Posted 08/05/09 at 09:58:10 AM by Paul Lilly
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Jailbreak your game console and no one is likely to take notice. But make a home business out of jailbreaking consoles for others and you may draw the attention of Homeland Security.
At least that's the case for Matthew Crippen, a 27-year-old Cal State Fullerton liberal arts student who was arrested by Homeland Security authorities on Monday. Crippen was picked up for allegedly violating the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).
"Defendant Matthew Crippen willfully and for purposes of commercial advantage and private financial gain, circumvented a technological measure that effectively controlled access to a copyrighted work, more particularly, used software to modify a Xbox machine's Optical Disc Drive so it would circumvent the anti-piracy measures contained on the original unmodified Optical Disc Drive," U.S. attorney Thomas P. O'Brien wrote in the indictment (PDF).
In a telephone interview with Wired.com's Threat Level, Crippen maintains the purpose of his jailbreaking business was to allow patrons to make "legally made backups," not for piracy.
The indictment charges Crippen with two counts, and if convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison.
Image Credit: hackerstickers.com
Ok, what about all the
Submitted by CyyberSpaceCowboy on Tue, 09/15/2009 - 9:05pm
Ok, what about all the Hackintosh articles on this site? To run a Mac OS on a non-Apple box (or an emulator, SheepShaver, Basilisk, etc), you still have to copy (or download) the ROM from a real Mac. It's not hundreds of dollars in software, but I doubt Woz and Jobs see the distinction. I'm coming kind of late to this discussion, but I also see a link to a new article on build your own MAME cabinet. For that matter, what about console emulators, surely there is one for the original XBOX. The only distinction is that I guess you could argue Mac and old console ROMS aren't encrypted, so they don't fall under DMCA.
Submitted by mike2060 on Mon, 08/17/2009 - 7:16am
America, land of the free and the greatest country in the world!!!!
why is Homeland Security
Submitted by gamefanatic26 on Sun, 08/16/2009 - 5:13pm
why is Homeland Security going after crap like this you would think they would go after other stuff like on cnn last night they did a report about right wing militias but instead there going after college kids hacking counsles lol.
Awesome!
Submitted by nmanguy on Sat, 08/15/2009 - 9:49am
That means they must have caught Osama and all of Al Quieda, if they spend time doing this BS instead of monitoring, you know, domestic threats.
Submitted by auwingr1 on Fri, 08/14/2009 - 10:18pm
I would expect to read this coming out of the ex-Soviet block countries, but come on this is the USA.
Well they said after 9-11 that our lives would never be the same and I guess this article pretty much proves that.
This is a little over the top for my tastes and someone has to say enough is enough.
Enough! all ready!
Submitted by glbarneson on Thu, 08/13/2009 - 11:57am
Oh no, I just installed DVD43. Am I going to have swat breaking down my front door, and hauling me off to guantanimo bay, never to be heard from again? Am I now a terrerist? I wasn't aware that homeland security was there to inforce corprate americas rights, as they trample over mine. I thought they were supposed to protect us from people trying to destroy our great and free democratic country,
We don't have enough money to fix our highways, healthcare, and infrastucture. but they have enough to arrest, try, and imprison people who might copy a DVD, or inable others to do the same. (which is legal to do as long as you do it for backup purposes).
Is it just me?
go read the wired article
Submitted by nekollx on Thu, 08/13/2009 - 12:06pm
go read the wired article and it gets even more rediculous
this is the brance od HS that did the bust
"Immigration and Customs Enforcement branch of the Homeland Security Department"
------------------------------
Coming soon to Lulu.com --Tokusatsu Heroes--
Five teenagers, one alien ghost, a robot, and the fate of the world.
Submitted by stevo7 on Mon, 08/10/2009 - 7:34pm
The best part of this is the fact that the hacked console is an xbox, not an iphone, not a ps3, not a wii, not a nintendo ds. I mean it would be another thing if it was an xbox 360 that was hacked. Microsoft has discountinued manufacturing of the original xbox and xbox games unlike what sony has done with the different versions of the ps1 and the games still coming out for it. Even gamestops have stopped taking xbox's and xbox games (at least in my area). There is no more market for this any more so the impact this college student could have is very slim. Now I'm not saying he's innocent and he shouldn't be punished, but A) Homeland Security? And B) a discountinued console?
And the even more best part? A hacked xbox can do what? Yea I know lots of things, things like say an unhacked just out of the box pc can do? Haha. I haven't pirated anything since Napster honestly, but geez who ever was buying these hacked xbox's should have just gotten a computer off of craigslist and looked up an article or too about bit torrents.
Stephen H. Robbins
Homeland Security is
Submitted by DBsantos77 on Thu, 08/13/2009 - 7:15am
Homeland Security is protecting us from the terrorists in Counter Strike for the Xbox. Makes total sense now.
WTF people!!!!
Submitted by drainbread on Sat, 08/08/2009 - 5:37am
I could give two shits about this guy hacking a console or two, what bothers me is that DHS is involved...
Fucking DHS people!
One more thing, DMCA is a total fraud, it takes things you have a legitimate right to do, things like backing up your music/movies/games and makes it illegal! You can rip music from your CD and be fine unless it has copy "protection"...
What a load of horseshit!
Submitted by Mr_Gone on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 10:33am
i think pirating games is the illegal part..
why the hell is.....
Submitted by ghot on Thu, 08/06/2009 - 2:26am
...The dept. of Homeland Security busting college kids who are hacking Xboxes? I can just see it now...a year from now Obama gets impeached in heated X-Gate trials....seems it turned out that the Dept. of Homeland Security was taking payoffs from MS and DMCA, all of which was approved by Obama....AND the transactions were recorded on an IPod/Phone lol.
Silly me...I thought the Dept. of Homeland Security was supposed to PROTECT Americans, not run gestapo tactics on college kids.
Apparently, we're allowed to hijack planes, kidnap people and sell them into slavery, blow up buildings and start riots, without raising the hackles of Homeland Security.....but hack an Xbox and LOOK OUT!
I bet a senate commitee hearing would turn up some really interesting money transfers in this case ^^
Take an OS, and edit out all the efficiency, and what you have left is a post-XP Microsoft operating system :)
Submitted by Leif52pickup on Wed, 08/05/2009 - 8:56pm
Seriously? Yeah, breaking the law will get you in trouble, but the Dept. of Homeland Security... don't they have some terrorists to bust. Our tax dollars at work ladies and gentlemen. You can all sleep soundly knowing that hacked game consoles won't blow you up tomorrow. >:(
I don't get it
Submitted by LordPyro on Wed, 08/05/2009 - 4:52pm
I really don't understand how some of you can sit here and say he is the victim, the USA is stupid in its laws.
HE BROKE THE LAW and will go to jail for it - thats what we do to criminals.
It is not the point that he modded the XBox, it is the point that he modded it specificly to go around the copyright protection allowing for pirated games to be loaded on more easily - and then selling this.
I don't see anything different between this and lets say someone selling fake ID's.
It's not justice
Submitted by carlosmessi on Wed, 08/05/2009 - 3:00pm
Let's face this guy is not at all dangerous and you know that. This is a clear message to all of you skilful players. When you learn something like that keep it for yourself. Let me be straight for me he is the victim.
Submitted by Muerte on Thu, 08/06/2009 - 12:01pm
Oh, please. If you think he did this just so people could make copies of games, your pretty naive.
I'm not a big fan of DRM but copyright laws are different. And this guy basically stole from the developers and did it for a profit. Hell if you pirate something you at least have the "I hate DRM" and the "I bought it so I should be able to copy it if I want to use it personally" arguments to lean on.
If you sell the things you stole, those arguments are no longer valid.
If you can't do the time, etc. Well in this case he'll probably get probation but same thing.
Submitted by unkn0wn on Wed, 08/05/2009 - 1:00pm
im in the army and currently in iraq.
what i dont understand is that homeland sec wants to fry this guy for moding his gear.
so what.
for some cash on the side? its the american way!
on the fob/cop i live on they have small shops that sell bootlegged movies, software,modded xboxes , pirated games etc.
whos the criminal?
im online with bootlegged software, stolen computer parts(not by me but bought none the less) and connected through a wifi hotspot pay as you go run by iraqis via some linux commands and tools for "free".
double edge knife
god bless the infantry! nerdcore till death
Submitted by sreesesr on Wed, 08/05/2009 - 1:41pm
Hey bro, same here in Afghan, movies, watches, consoles, PC's you name it. Entire box sets of TV shows being sold for dirt cheap......all PIRATED! For some reason as long as you are deployed, it's all legal then you go back to the states and end up in jail for the same thing being done on war zone US military bases. Makes you wonder where all that money is going that the US military and civilian contractors are giving to local nationals for their "services".
Interesting......
U.S. Army Sergeant
Submitted by unkn0wn on Wed, 08/05/2009 - 2:12pm
god bless the infantry! nerdcore till death
stuff falling off trucks and american green backs filling some pockets.
I just think that when you buy an item you take ownership over said item.
if you open or mod it then you void any service agreement you had.so be it.
10 years is just insane.
maybe they should give him a job in the programming dept.
Submitted by nekollx on Wed, 08/05/2009 - 1:12pm
just had a image of Infantry Nerd Core guy being harrased by Homeland Security Suit...
who do you think won?
------------------------------
Coming soon to Lulu.com --Tokusatsu Heroes--
Five teenagers, one alien ghost, a robot, and the fate of the world.
Submitted by deadsolid on Wed, 08/05/2009 - 12:35pm
Wait, is this the same with computers? So if I alter a computer (just fixing it or w/e) and charge for that alteration, is that agaisnt the law?
Gotta love a country that is
Submitted by Svetty Parabols on Wed, 08/05/2009 - 12:17pm
Gotta love a country that is more worried that someone illegally copied a game rather than catch and stop terrorists. God bless the Corporation of the United States.
Submitted by LordPyro on Wed, 08/05/2009 - 11:55am
Good, he was breaking a copy right law and then selling his services so others could break the law as well.
He deserves to go to jail, as well as anyone else who breaks the law.
Submitted by AkuPenguin on Thu, 08/06/2009 - 8:01am
I'm just posting this in case yer someone I know. If not, and you just happen to use the same name as him, howdy all the same.
Submitted by nekollx on Wed, 08/05/2009 - 12:33pm
Quote the EXACT law he broke
Go on.
Cause last i check a number of large companies sold Unlocked (modded) smartphones, PS3s, Roxio and Slysolft bot h let you circimbent DRM to make legal backups of your softwere.
If they cant get away with it and aren't being hounded by NATIONAL SECURITY why is this guy?
------------------------------
Coming soon to Lulu.com --Tokusatsu Heroes--
Five teenagers, one alien ghost, a robot, and the fate of the world.
Here you go...
Submitted by alanmc76 on Wed, 08/05/2009 - 1:33pm
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mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}US CODE: Title 17,1201. Circumvention
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mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}(a) Violations Regarding
Circumvention of Technological Measures.—(A) No person shall circumvent a
technological measure that effectively controls access to a work protected
under this title...Bla, Bla, Bla
Any more questions?
It Is illegal, and you can go to jail - period.
__________________________________________
-- "What am I, MacGyver? Fix it with what?"--
Submitted by alanmc76 on Wed, 08/05/2009 - 1:42pm
US CODE: Title 17,1201. Circumvention of copyright protection systems
(a) Violations Regarding Circumvention of Technological Measures.—
(1)
(A) No person shall circumvent a technological measure that effectively controls access to a work protected under this title...Bla, Bla, Bla
Any more questions?
It Is illegal, and you can go to jail - period.
_________________________________________
-- "What am I, MacGyver? Fix it with what?"--
Submitted by nekollx on Wed, 08/05/2009 - 1:35pm
yes
Why havent they hauled off all those compies selling jailbroken smartphones, Slysoft, and Roxio? What makes this guy so Special?
------------------------------
Coming soon to Lulu.com --Tokusatsu Heroes--
Five teenagers, one alien ghost, a robot, and the fate of the world.
Submitted by alanmc76 on Wed, 08/05/2009 - 2:03pm
My guess is, someone else got busted for selling pirated games and sold him out. Let's hope he has a bigger fish to squeal on.
_________________________________________
-- "What am I, MacGyver? Fix it with what?"--
Submitted by Queenof1 on Wed, 08/05/2009 - 11:40am
He shouldn't have charged for it.
Submitted by raiseyohands on Wed, 08/05/2009 - 10:30am
this is the uttermost bullsh*t i have ever read. what about all the people who post "xbox mods" on craigslist? why aren't any of those people targeted by the goverment. seriously, theres also websites posting the game back-up images which people use to get their games.
Submitted by Muerte on Thu, 08/06/2009 - 12:07pm
Depends on what the mods do. If they do the same as this guy I'm sure they will be dealt with. A lot of those mods just allow you to use different hardware or play different video codecs than what the game console originally allowed. Nothing illegal about it.
Submitted by jasperstam on Thu, 08/13/2009 - 4:33pm
That's bullshit.
Everyone knows that it's illegal to copy anything copy protected. It doesn't make any difference whether or not it's for personal use (ie; Back up movies, games, music, etc.) or if you're planning on selling them online or on the street...
You need to read up on your copyrights.
Submitted by yardGNOME on Wed, 08/05/2009 - 10:18am
The US Gov't has a bad habit of making peoples life miserable. I did not know hacking an Xbox, is like making a bomb threat to the US Capitol to involve Homeland Security.. too much power, way to much. Anything that a human persues to make themselves happy (Cannabis, sex, smoking cig's,hacking an Xbox, copying movies etc..etc..), Uncle Sugar makes sure you are bitch-slapped back to reality to know how royaly fucked in the starfish you are getting by the US and that more of your freedoms are being lost for the illusion of safety or what not.... Time to move to Brazil....
Submitted by jasperstam on Thu, 08/13/2009 - 4:48pm
You may have it wrong, there..
The US may be bad, but Brazil is becoming worse and worse.
(Brazil's)President Lula... stated he will "do all that is possible so that the
criminalisation of homophobia... may be approved."It's now a crime to be scared of homosexuals.
Most people can't control their fear and usually have reason to be afraid, such as a bad experience in the past.
Brazil isn't as wonderful as it may seem. I'm staying right here.
Submitted by Cyberdiver on Wed, 08/05/2009 - 10:06am
The issues is that he sold his services to hack the box. You purchase the item from manufacture you can mod you heart away as long as it is for your own use and your not using it to break any laws. In this case he was selling his services which allowed others to break the laws and making a profit in circumventing someones else intellectual property. But lets be honest he probably broke some of those laws himself otherwise why hack it. Odds are those import games mentioned below were not ligit copies that some of you mentioned wanting to play. There is a reason that game cost $5 in china as opposed to the $50 here.
Submitted by habuza on Wed, 08/05/2009 - 9:55am
Just another reason I think the u.s. government should burn. I'll jailbreak and backup any damn media i please, because guess what, I'm not paying those fuckers multiple times for something I already bought. To people who think this person should be jailed. GFYS. Hard.
As for the shotgun bit, comparing apples to hand grenades. One is harmful, one isn't. You figure it out.
Eh, Apples and Hand
Submitted by Tekzel on Thu, 08/06/2009 - 5:25pm
Eh, Apples and Hand Grenades... It takes an apple a day to keep the doctor away, one well placed grenade and its permanent.
Submitted by sasquatch42 on Wed, 08/05/2009 - 9:11am
Stupid DMCA
just one more reason to move to Canada
Xbox Hack
Submitted by monkeyboyx on Wed, 08/05/2009 - 8:52am
(purpose of his jailbreaking business was to allow patrons to make "legally made backups," not for piracy.) ROFL
Ohh yeah that’s the reason I moded my Playstation years ego...wink...wink....yeah right. You hack it to pirate game lets be adults about it….don’t act like a five year old for god sakes. What your afraid of scratching your game cd..lol
EA will charge $10 to get new media as an example. Company invents a way to protect their intellectual property. You go and hack it, what do you think will happen. What reason? backup….yeah ok BS. Or install Linux….get a f***** PC.
Submitted by monkeyboyx on Wed, 08/05/2009 - 12:46pm
No no no…if you jail break the iphone all your doing is slightly hurting apple since they can’t charge you for all the apps.You already payed apple for the phone and ATT for the service so they don’t care. Are you seriously buying the idea of I did it so people can backup their own games….you got to be joking. I do respect the guy for doing it and I’m sure he has skills but don’t post what you find. What do you think the other guys is going to do with the info? Rent all of blockbuster that’s what. It seem that every gadget these days is protected by the DMCA. Cause all they have to do is shout terrorist!!! his trying to hack blue-ray, Xbox, iphone, whatever and your done.
Let me guess.. your the kind of idiot....
Submitted by Devo85x on Wed, 08/05/2009 - 9:54am
Let me guess... your the kind of idiot that would TELL someone that... you would also get fined a HELL of a lot more... thats like getting arrested for your friend smoking weed because you told the cop it was yours...
Submitted by nekollx on Wed, 08/05/2009 - 8:56am
or to play import games
or to use as a home computer without having to drop another half grand on a new box
oh ye of shuch small world view.
So all the articles MAx PX just posted on jailbreaking different devices you going to say on the MaxPC blog the MacPC editors encourage piracy.
After all why else would you jailbreak a device?
------------------------------
Coming soon to Lulu.com --Tokusatsu Heroes--
Five teenagers, one alien ghost, a robot, and the fate of the world.
Submitted by comptech08 on Wed, 08/05/2009 - 7:45am
some gov't. I guess its almost there, were when a consumer buys something they can't do what they want with their OWN stuff. Anybody read the privacy statement for the cash for clunkers on cars.gov? There is a video about it below. But its fox news, so who knows, lol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWs12ccbOiE
Pretty soon the food we buy and eat will not be ours and the gov't will make us throw it up cuz they want it instead. :)
Submitted by foamcup on Wed, 08/05/2009 - 8:59am
He was breaking the law. If I saw off the barrel of my shotgun and stash it under my coat, that's fucking illegal, even though I own it and can do what I want with it, right? If he was cracking open game consoles and shitting in them, I don't think any one would mind, but modding them to play warez violates the law, therefore he gets hauled away.
Submitted by comptech08 on Wed, 08/05/2009 - 9:27am
its not illegal to mod consoles. I dont care if you saw your shotgun barrel off and plus your comparing something that is illegal to something that is not. Where is the proof that people were using these to play pirated games? I know it probably happened but you need proof to charge anybody. Anybody could use anything for illegal activities. You buy a car and use it for a bank robbery. Does that make the dealership responsible? HELL NO. So how is this kid responsible for what people do with modded consoles he sold them? You cannot charge him because he modded consoles.
Submitted by Muerte on Thu, 08/06/2009 - 12:49pm
No its no illegal to mod your box unless in doing so your making it illegal. You can add a scope to a shotgun and no one would say a word but once you saw it off you make it illegal.
My guess is that someone showed him how to mod it. Because he isn't smart enough to keep that kind of modificatrion to himself then I doubt he could have thought of it on his own.
Submitted by Tekzel on Thu, 08/06/2009 - 5:18pm
You know, the only thing I could focus on after reading your reply was... Why in the HELL would anyone put a scope on a SHOTGUN?
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