5 ms·

As a small-L libertarian, I have no issue with Microsoft offering to me voluntary entry into a licensing agreement for use of an xBox with the restriction that

As a small-L libertarian, I have no issue with Microsoft offering to me voluntary entry into a licensing agreement for use of an xBox with the restriction that I not modify it. And, any supposed violation of this agreement would, as with most (all?) contractual issues, be civil rather than criminal matter.

jrockway 16y ago
As a person-that-likes-to-walk-around-his-house-naked, I do not want a company to be able to come in to my house at any time to make sure I'm not violating any rules. Also, that contract would not apply in this case. Sure, the owner is violating the contract, but the person adding the mod chip isn't. He never signed anything.
- chopsueyar 16y ago
  Don't buy a Kinect.
- elblanco 16y ago
  > As a person-that-likes-to-walk-around-his-house-naked, I do not want a company to be able to come in to my house at any time to make sure I'm not violating any rules. I wonder if the TSA is going to be handed enforcement of anti-mod-chip laws at some point.
- VMG 16y ago
  as another small-l libertarian I fully agree with you
meric 16y ago
Yeah but currently the XBox isn't licensed to you; You own it, unless I was ill informed.
- enjo 16y ago
  The whole idea of licensing a physical product is comical. It always comes down to "who fixes it if it breaks"? If the answer is "me" then I own it and can do whatever the hell I feel like with it.
  - chopsueyar 16y ago
    Like this? http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1946151 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1946151
    - enjo 16y ago
      Ya... exactly that really. After all, if I rent a car and it breaks I'm not the one fixing it:)
  - ShabbyDoo 16y ago
    "It always comes down to 'who fixes it if it breaks'?" While this might be an interesting personal test, I don't believe it a legal standard. It is the case that one may enter into a contract to possess a physical good with limitations on its use, right? Isn't the issue that, sans such a contract, the US legal systems applies a common set of rules surrounding ownership?
iwr 16y ago
Even in such a case, breaking the contract would make you subject to tort, rather than criminal law. Meaning you'd have to pay some form of compensation (which would have to be expressly specified in the contract), but not go to prison.
- deleted 16y ago
  [deleted]

jrockway 16y ago

As a person-that-likes-to-walk-around-his-house-naked, I do not want a company to be able to come in to my house at any time to make sure I'm not violating any rules. Also, that contract would not apply in this case. Sure, the owner is violating the contract, but the person adding the mod chip isn't. He never signed anything.

chopsueyar 16y ago
Don't buy a Kinect.
elblanco 16y ago
> As a person-that-likes-to-walk-around-his-house-naked, I do not want a company to be able to come in to my house at any time to make sure I'm not violating any rules. I wonder if the TSA is going to be handed enforcement of anti-mod-chip laws at some point.
VMG 16y ago
as another small-l libertarian I fully agree with you

meric 16y ago

Yeah but currently the XBox isn't licensed to you; You own it, unless I was ill informed.

enjo 16y ago
The whole idea of licensing a physical product is comical. It always comes down to "who fixes it if it breaks"? If the answer is "me" then I own it and can do whatever the hell I feel like with it.
- chopsueyar 16y ago
  Like this? http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1946151 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1946151
  - enjo 16y ago
    Ya... exactly that really. After all, if I rent a car and it breaks I'm not the one fixing it:)
- ShabbyDoo 16y ago
  "It always comes down to 'who fixes it if it breaks'?" While this might be an interesting personal test, I don't believe it a legal standard. It is the case that one may enter into a contract to possess a physical good with limitations on its use, right? Isn't the issue that, sans such a contract, the US legal systems applies a common set of rules surrounding ownership?

iwr 16y ago

Even in such a case, breaking the contract would make you subject to tort, rather than criminal law. Meaning you'd have to pay some form of compensation (which would have to be expressly specified in the contract), but not go to prison.

deleted 16y ago
[deleted]