Mod chips soon in vogue Down Under

Expected to be passed this week, Australia's Copyright Amendment Bill 2006 will make it legal for consumers to use mod chips designed to bypass region coding. If these chips subsequently circumvent anti-piracy technology, then that's cool too. Despite pressure due to obligations established by its Free Trade Agreement with the US, the Australian government has opted not to amend wording that would outlaw code-busting chips.

While likely too small of a market to force the alteration of current manufacturing processes, Australia could push game console makers to separate their region coding and copyright protection technologies in the future. "I think people are just going to have to sit down and think about manufacturing standards," recommended Carolyn Dalton of the international law firm Minter Ellison; that, or just cut the Aussies off. No PlayStation 3 for yous!