We all live with limited resources -- individuals, businesses, and yes, even governments.
If the limitation isn't monetary, as it never seems to be for the government, it is at least limited by the number of available employees.
With that in mind, why does the Federal Government,under the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency spend its time and the limited time of the Customs agents in a 16-state raid on homes and businesses in search of so-called "mod chips?"
Mod chips or "swap discs" allow gamers to play pirated titles or counterfeit copies on Sony's PlayStation 2, Microsoft's Xbox, and Nintendo's Wii video-game consoles.
I don't think I have ever seen a bigger sting operation for illegal drugs. Or, for that matter, the number of personnel required to pull this off used for the inspection of goods coming into our country by air, land, and sea.
I admit I don't know this for a fact, but if the equivalent has been done, it would be news to me.
I wonder how much time and effort was spent on undercover operations and coordinating this operation? Wouldn't the same number of agents and the same amount of time be better spent on trying to stop drug trafficking? Or potential terrorist attacks through our ports?
It appears that the mod chips violate the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1997. Estimates by the Entertainment Software Association put losses due to counterfeit or pirated copies at $3 billion.
Whose losses? Not mine. Frankly, I could care less. Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony are doing quite well, thank you, without the government spending what is probably millions of dollars in executing this raid on mod-chip manufacturers and sellers.
Why does the federal government seem more concerned with protecting Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo than they do you and me?
As a taxpayer who works in high-tech, I just think high-tech and consumer electronics companies get enough breaks from Uncle Sam and enough dollars from me that the Customs Enforcement agency should spend my money on something more important.
Posted by Ephraim Schwartz on August 2, 2007 01:57 PM
