PS3 Break modchip

Monday 04 October 2010 - London, United Kingdom – Video games and interactive entertainment trade body UKIE, fully supports its member, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe's (SCEE), recent success in combatting the illegal trade in copied video games and the sale of illegal modification chips (modchips).

PS3 Break, an illegal modchip that allows illegal copies of video games to be played on the PlayStation®3 (PS3™) console, has been available in the UK since 13 September.

SCEE reacted quickly to its becoming available, writing to the companies that advertised and stocked the Break device and advising them to desist in selling the illegal product. Most companies that were contacted complied immediately and ceased to stock and to sell the product. Court orders were swiftly obtained against those companies that continued to sell the product and they have now also stopped selling the PS3 Break modchips.

UKIE’s Director General, Michael Rawlinson, said, “Having our member, SCEE, respond so quickly to prevent the sale of illegal PS3 modification chips shows the commitment that the video games and interactive entertainment industry has to stamping out intellectual property theft. Intellectual property theft is a hugely damaging crime both to the individuals whose creativity is stolen and to the businesses that make up Britain’s video games and interactive entertainment industry. UKIE’s own anti-piracy unit works tirelessly to combat the illegal trading of video games and we welcome Sony’s swift and committed response to dealing with the illegal sale of the PS3 Break modchip.”

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Contacts:

For all press enquiries, please contact the UKIE press office on T: +44 (0)20 7534 0580 or E: press@ukie.info

About UKIE

The Association for United Kingdom Interactive Entertainment or UKIE is the only trade body that represents the whole of the UK’s video games and wider interactive entertainment industry. Founded in 1989 (and formerly known as ELSPA), UKIE’s membership includes games publishers, developers and the academic institutions that support the industry.

UKIE works with government to champion a range of issues including age ratings, education and skills, tax incentives and protecting intellectual property rights. It also works with the media to ensure true and accurate representation of the sector by raising awareness of the industry’s positive economic contribution and the societal benefits of gaming to policy makers, regulators and consumers.

One of UKIE’s key roles is to support its members by providing them with key market information, promoting careers and offering the business support services, training and best-practice knowledge to enable them to operate most effectively.

In addition, UKIE works with GfK Chart-Track to compile weekly, monthly and annual retail charts and sales reports for the UK market.