Three distributors who were banned from selling a “dongle” that lets users play homemade and pirated games on the Sony PS3 console are going to appeal a temporary injunction awarded to Sony Computer Entertainment by the Australian Federal Court according to legal sources.
SmartHouse has been told that the three distributors, who in the past have won the right to sell modified chips, are currently considering lodging an appeal later this week.
Sony Computer Entertainment got the temporary injunction that prevents gaming distributors OzModChips, Mod Supplier and Quantronics from selling the PS3Jailbreak “dongle” late last week after Sony Computer Entertainment in Europe joined SCE Australia to take legal action against them.
Sony has until August 31 to makes its case to the court for a permanent ban. If it fails, the chips could go on sale on 1 September.
Under the current Federal Court order Sony gets control of all of the dongles in the firms’ possession and allows the electronics giant to test the devices – including “destructive analysis” – to see how they work.
During the weekend SmartHouse was told that at least three European distributors of the dongle may help fund the legal appeal in Australia.
A spokesperson for Console Pro, another distributor based in the Netherlands, told BBC News the “dongle converts a retail unit into a dev unit”.
Dev units are used by developers to test code for the machine.
“Dev mode means it will run any – even unsigned – code,” said the spokesperson. “Using a simple backup maker or player software, you can play backed-up [saved] games without the actual disc being in the PS3.”
The legality of these products – commonly called modchips – differs by country.
In Australia they are legal, whilst in the UK a recent court case brought by Nintendo said that “game copiers” were illegal to import, advertise or sell.
SmartHouse has been told that the three distributors, who in the past have won the right to sell modified chips, are currently considering lodging an appeal later this week.
Sony Computer Entertainment got the temporary injunction that prevents gaming distributors OzModChips, Mod Supplier and Quantronics from selling the PS3Jailbreak “dongle” late last week after Sony Computer Entertainment in Europe joined SCE Australia to take legal action against them.
Sony has until August 31 to makes its case to the court for a permanent ban. If it fails, the chips could go on sale on 1 September.
Under the current Federal Court order Sony gets control of all of the dongles in the firms’ possession and allows the electronics giant to test the devices – including “destructive analysis” – to see how they work.
During the weekend SmartHouse was told that at least three European distributors of the dongle may help fund the legal appeal in Australia.
A spokesperson for Console Pro, another distributor based in the Netherlands, told BBC News the “dongle converts a retail unit into a dev unit”. Dev units are used by developers to test code for the machine.
“Dev mode means it will run any – even unsigned – code,” said the spokesperson. “Using a simple backup maker or player software, you can play backed-up [saved] games without the actual disc being in the PS3.”
The legality of these products – commonly called modchips – differs by country.
In Australia they are legal, whilst in the UK a recent court case brought by Nintendo said that “game copiers” were illegal to import, advertise or sell.
