Messiah doesn't pirate software
Humans do...
Channel Technology has slammed Sony for forcing it to to stop distributing a PlayStation mod-chip product. On its web site, the company attacks legal actions from the consumer electronics giant and defends the legality of its Messiah mod-chip. The site's owner, calling himself Gazza, says the mod-chip can be used for legal purposes, such as playing imported games from other countries and regions and being able to view certain titles in full-screen mode at 60hz resolution on PAL consoles. Bar possible restrictions on how Messiah's other capabilities are advertised, this functionality is useful and, arguably, legal, he says. Mod-chips are a popular addition to gaming consoles and other devices which remove various restrictions placed on them by their original manufacturers. Typically, players are restricted to playing games or watching DVDs zoned for their particular region, but installing a mod-chip can free users to use titles from any zone. On the site, Gazza enters a lengthy dialogue on the ins and outs of how various alternatives work and how Messiah remains a useful addition to the PS2. He notes that certain other mod-chips, widely sold across the Internet, are built to only play unlicensed or pirated media, whereas Messiah is able to perform various legal functions (as well as the illegal ones). But, as he summarises further on: Messiah does not play pirate software, humans do. It's the chips ability to play copied and pirated titles that has annoyed Sony enough for it to stamp down on two UK-based mod-chip distributors - Channel Technology and Playstationmods.com - forcing them to stop sales of their products with immediate effect. In a personal email, which The Reg has seen, Gazza bitterly admits that even though Channel Technology's position is legally defendable, its ability to do so is entirely dependent on the depths of its wallet. As he describes it, it's "like I have to fight by getting in the ring and taking on the likes of Mike Tyson ... I'm probably going to get knocked out in round one". Attempts to contact Gazza and Channel Technology were unanswered.