Is modding or "hacking" your 360 illegal?
- Thread starter AdladUK
- Start date
Right. I know if you remove certain parts of your 360 you invalidate your warranty, but does that mean the process itself is against the law? I'm pretty certain it's not (although who knows these days). The reason I'm asking is because firstly no one on here is talking about how to do it and secondly there are only a couple of sites showing you how it's done.
In itself its not illegal but the slightly grey legal area and the pirate games its usually used to play are which is why its not allowed to be talked about on here.
I also have a vague reclection that the software you flash is based on a pirated version of the original firmware which would make it illegal but im not totally sure on this part
I also have a vague reclection that the software you flash is based on a pirated version of the original firmware which would make it illegal but im not totally sure on this part
The games side are a completely different process though... Aren't they?
I mean... Learning how to firmware your 360 drive and being able to download valid 7GB game files (and knowing what to do with them once you have them) are a world apart, surely?
Theres only one or 2 other reasons I can think of wanting to change the firmware of a drive, the major reason for most people pure and simply is so they dont have to buy games and if you can flash a drive you can download and burn a pirate iso
You can't pre-empt an illegal act by stopping someone doing something completely legal.
And that is my question. Is modding your 360 drive firmware illegal? It would seem not. So why ban talk on it?
I know downloading copyrighted material and burning it is, but I'm not asking that.
I have to ask, what does modding the firmware achieve other than allowing you to play pirated games? I can't think of anything.
If i'm right then that's why talk of it is banned on these forums; it only leads to illegal activities so why let people discuss it?
On the legal mumbo-jumbo front, if what you are flashing the drive with is a modified version of the original firmware then yes it is illegal. I can't remember the exact details but iirc anything they have coded is protected and should not be modified.
If i'm right then that's why talk of it is banned on these forums; it only leads to illegal activities so why let people discuss it?
On the legal mumbo-jumbo front, if what you are flashing the drive with is a modified version of the original firmware then yes it is illegal. I can't remember the exact details but iirc anything they have coded is protected and should not be modified.
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The 2 other things I could think of is if your drive failed and you change it you need to flash it with the correct identifier so your xbox will run and to change the speed at which the drive spins for noise
Playing backed up games you already own.
For example, say you have invested £500 in all the latest titles... You have a 2 year old that likes to bite and wreck anything he can get his hands on (including your precious 360 titles)... So you back up your games (to protect them) and want to play them on your console.
That's 1 example I can think of.
They also ban talk on films and tv thats not been shown in the uk yet, but you could have legally seen it in the states its just to make the mods lifes easier and lower the chances of the forum getting into trouble
and that is illegal under UK copyright law
99% of people will use it to pirate illegally obtained copy write material, that results in it becoming a taboo subject. Forums like these don't have much to gain from running them so they want to play it as safe as possible and fair enough tbh.
And you know this precise % fact how exactly?
Let's not quibble over paltry figures. Any logical mind would be able to realize that the vast majority of people flashing their 360s drive firmware will be doing it to download, burn and play illegally obtained games.
It is possible (although I am not certain) that a copyright/IP law of some sort exists in EU/USA that prevents people from making modifications to patented software (which firmware falls under). Plus you sign some sort of EULA when you join upto xbox live (I know u could change firmware and never use Live, but in practice people are not doing this!!).
Why is it not discussed here?
The 2 main things that can be done with 360 firmwares (for the vast majority of people doing it) is pirated games and reducing the dvd spin rate.
Obviously the pirate software is the reason these threads are usually deleted quite quickly. Even if a sensible discussion occurs, some people ruin it with boasts of their pirated games so the threads get closed.
The rule is hypocritical, imo, as in the OcUK Apple forums you are allowed to discuss details of modifying the firmwares of Apple iPods and iPhones, which are covered by same laws/EULA.
Either way, can't talk about it here, and this thread will last less than 48 hours
rp2000
You're making a pre-determined assumption that people will break the law, based on a % "fact" you have made up in your head.
I disagree with you. I know plenty of people that don't want to get their prized 360 collection of discs damaged by frequent usage.
But yeah... No point in quibbling.