Copyright contravention and the modification of games consoles

by Dan Gaskell

"The Copyright Design and Patents Act 1988 (CDPA) was amended by Statutory Instrument on 31 October 2003 through the introduction of the Copyright and Related Rights Regulations 2003. The driving force behind this was an EC Directive and ought to have provided a consistent approach across the EC in respect of the issue of the modification of games consoles and what is or is not legal. The reality has seen quite a different approach being adopted in this country (UK) from the approach adopted in other member countries and in particular Italy, Spain and more recently France…"