Electronics retailer stung with USD $9 million piracy fine

Electronics retailer Divineo has been slapped with a fine of more than USD $9 million (EUR 7.1 million) for selling and distributing mod chips and HDLoader software.

The HDLoader allows full games to be downloaded and stored on a PS2 hard drive, and is considered key software used for console piracy.

"Mod chips and HDLoaders are key elements in facilitating video game piracy because they allow people to play illegally copied games on illegally modified video game consoles," said Ric Hirsch, senior VP of intellectual property enforcement for America's Entertainment Software Association.

"This court order is very important because it recognises the significant damage that mod chips and HDLoaders cause the entertainment software industry and delivers the clear message that trafficking in circumvention devices that enable game piracy will result in heavy penalties," he added.

The ruling took place on September 11th in the US District Court of California.