Many computer games contain copyright protections which are ineffective. For every protective measure that is developed, someone will develop a "crack" rendering such protection useless. This has happened time and again. Another popular way to circumvent copy protections is through the use of a "mod-chip" in videogame systems such as Playstation. Although, with the advent of Playstation 2 (PS2), pirating games is slightly more difficult. First of all, the PS2 requires both the soldering of a mod-chip into the PS2 and a "Game Enhancer" to be plugged into the back of the machine. The total cost of modifying a PS2 is around $60-70, but I would say the biggest problem with pirating PS2 games is that most of the games are in DVD format. This makes it more expensive to duplicate, although I imagine that PS2 pirating will become more widespread in the future as access to DVD writers increases. 8
Another method of
fighting piracy is through the reporting of Internet sites containing illegal copies of
software. Such sites may make video and computer games available for download or sell so-called
back-up CD-R copies, which may be purchased online and delivered through the mail.
The ISDA site provides a forum for the anonymous reporting of illegal sites so that law
enforcement authorities can take appropriate action. 9
What methods are people using to acquire pirated games?