What are the laws about installing modchips and use of modchips in
Gaming Consoles in Ontario, Canada?

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Clarification of Question by poke598-ga on 09 Jul 2004 23:13 PDT

I am specifically referring to the Microsoft Xbox, but still all
modchips in general. I need to know what is legal and what is not
legal.

I install modchips for a living, I just want to know the laws, lol.

Considering that the X-box is a Microsoft product, and they actually
are encouraging hacking of the Xbox unlike any other company has with
their product.  Just take the example of Halo online, it was just a
hack, but Microsoft encouraged and expanded on it, if I am not
mistaken, they even have mod chips out for it, and their are plenty of
modded Xboxes advertised for sale in the USA not just personnally, but
company wise also, and in the country of Frivolous law suits,
Microsoft has yet to file one case against any modding or "hacking" of
the Xbox, so I'd say go for it, but then again, I'm american, not
canadian.

While I'm not a lawyer nor familiar with Canadian law, in the U.S.
it's very illegal under the DMCA, and Canada likely has a similar law.

A modchip works around software that protects copyright material (BIOS
images, game discs, etc.) Hence, you are trying to work-around
copyright protection measures, which can result in a hefty fine and
even jail time, if I remember correctly.

While the law doesn't stop many, busts do occur. If you do decide to
go for it, I wish you luck.

I don't believe that Canada has a law anything like the DMCA.