Do You Want Chips With That?

Sydney man Eddy Stevens is crowing justifiably about his victory over Sony in the case of 'mod-chips' for Playstation games machines.

But the irony is that the our Free Trade Agreement with the US will likely spoil it all again shortly, as reported in The Age:

The free trade agreement which Australia signed with the US last year and which came into effect this year stipulates that copyright laws here have to be aligned with those in the US by 2007.

According to the FTA, consumers cannot circumvent "effective technological measures" that control access to a tech device.

Presumably, this may also end Australia's openness with regard to multi-zone DVD players that allow us to play movies purchased overseas.

-- Nick