** Piracy Policy - Updated: Dec 28, 2006 **

***Note – This policy will be constantly evolving, and if a topic or post does not fall within one of the below, it will be solely left to forum staff to make a decision. That decision may lead to a revision of this, so check back often to keep up to date.

QJ.NET is a site that reports on ALL technology and console news spanning the range of it's content, this includes Piracy. We are against piracy morally but we know that many of you are not.

Feel free to discuss the moral/ethical/industry issues often tied to using pirated media so long as you are not asking or telling someone how to get an illegal file to work, or posting links to illegal material. We will not be a forum for troubleshooting where piracy is involved.

Piracy on these forums does not necessarily match your interpretation of local laws in your area. With that in mind, please see below for an itemized breakdown of what cannot be discussed openly on the forums.

General DO NOT: ask for or link to backup's for commercially available games. ask for or link pirated commercial software. This includes cracks and key generators. link to any website that offers downloads for commercially available games, software, movies, music, or TV shows. The general rule of thumb is that if it is any copyrighted media, do not link to it. offer to help in any way with topics which violate these policies. Offering to help through the use of private messaging or chat is still offering help. ask for help in any way with topics which violate these policies. Asking for help through the use of private messaging or chat is still asking help.

PSP DO NOT: ask how to get an ISO/CSO/DAX to load on your PSP. ask how to compress an ISO/CSO/DAX to save space on your memstick. ask how to rip your UMD into an ISO/CSO/DAX file format. ask ISO related DevHook, or custom firmware questions. ask for or link to firmware dumps. This includes any and all individual copyright Sony libraries. ask for or link to commercial ROMs or Operating Systems(BIOS) for use with emulators. This includes PSX titles on 3.0+ as well as other console specific game files. ask how to get a commercial ROM to load on your PSP. This includes PSX titles on 3.0+ as well as other console specific game files. ask for or link to any custom gameboots or other PMF files. It's not just custom ones that we don't want, even standard ones are illegal because they're ripped from games or UMDs and as such are still copyright of their respective owners. PMF is not an open format; as such, we don't allow them to be distributed. ask or create threads to list out compatibility for ISOs on 3.XX OE family of firmwares.

XBox 360 DO NOT: ask how to flash your 360's DVD drive. ask for help with custom firmwares or where they can be provided.

PS3 Please refer to the General "Do Not" section. The PS3 list will be updated upon any new developments, so check back often.

Nintendo Wii DO NOT: ask how/where to download Wii game backups for use with the WiiKey or any other commercially available modchip.

Nintendo DS DO NOT: ask for or link to commercial ROMs. ask how to get a commercial ROM to load on your DS.

MMPORG DO NOT: link to private servers. Discussion about what they are like is permitted. sell CD keys or in-game items since they are against the EULA of most games.

PC Gaming DO NOT: ask for CD keys or cracks, bypassing copy protection, playing online with a pirated copy etc.

Ipod Touch DO NOT: Link to ISPW. Link to Cracked Apps

Our moderators are swamped as it is, so we are implementing the following forum policy: Anyone who blatantly breaks these rules on the piracy issue will receive a minimum 1 week ban to maximum permanent IP ban.

We aren't trying to censor you; we are just not going to chance having our site shut down for the piracy issue which we are against in the first place. I hope this clears things up, and happy posting!

[Avigrace]

Appreciate the clarification. Lucky for me no pirate has tried to steal my PSP.

[FrozenIpaq]

Thank you, this is exactly what I wanted to do . This should clear a few issues and prevent some threads being formed. Once again, thank you very much.

[At∀RaҖiA]

Thank you. You're the only one that gave a better explaination than "DONT TALK ABOUT PIRACY" much Appreciated.

[Jake]

Originally Posted by savethekids

Thank you. You're the only one that gave a better explaination than "DONT TALK ABOUT PIRACY" much Appreciated.

Not really. Its just that you can only explain it over and over again so many times, and eventually, you just say "DON'T TALK ABOUT PIRACY"! (Anyone who searches before posting would've seen more detailed explanations of why we're not covering specific material. )

[JoP]

i agree, most people dont realize the trouble this website can get in for that

i've heard of webmasters being sent to jail for various piracy reasons, and the owner of this site should not have to face consequences for something a member did, let alone for something he doesnt even like

[zitna]

yes we all know u need your money.

p.s. thats why u don't host REAL files.

[At∀RaҖiA]

Does anybody realize that zitna is just antiz spelled backwords. The same guy that got banned a short while back?

[Spades85]

Originally Posted by Avigrace

Appreciate the clarification. Lucky for me no pirate has tried to steal my PSP.

*Sigh* I wish I was one of the lucky ones.

Thanks for clarifying this for us--perhaps put this as a link in the ultimate guide?

[Jake]

Originally Posted by zitna

yes we all know u need your money.

p.s. thats why u don't host REAL files.

What does that have to do with anything? If it was just about more moeny (ie, more traffic) we WOULD host the files...?

And no, unfortunately I have better things to do than to search for users who have been banned, but thanks for the heads up.

BTW, Antiz - you were originally only temp banned and it was about to expire in a day. It's permanent now.

[Sauron96]

Well that makes sense since he kept being the one causing trouble in every thread that tried to discuss things in a reasonable way...

Anyway, glad for the super-sticky cause it might get a whole lot better/worse very soon...

[Sauron96]

this sticky should be on the top of EVERY sub-forum you have....

Preferably with BLINKING letters or something to call attention to it...

:think:

[BobModernNinja]

Don't lock the thread, ipban the original poster and delete the thread. Or create a section for lame threads and move the offending threads there.

[Sauron96]

Na - USE DISCRETION when banning someone

If someone seems like they just made a honest mistake; then just let them know. If someone is being an ass starting multiple threads and saying stupid crap everywhere well...................

[Ocelot]

Hey, if they did that, I would've been banned six times by now. Of course, I don't actively get in the way of intelligent discussions, I just start stupid ones, or participate in threads that were stupid to start with. I like to think I'm moderately helpful otherwise.

So, yes, use discretion with banning.

[Ocelot]

One more thing - IP bans are lame. All dial-up users need to do is [Edit: Hey, hey, hey..Don't share the info] to get assigned a new IP, and broadband users can just go somewhere else. Plus people who get IP banned can't even browse the forums - that would suck.

[Synyster gates]

i go away for three days and and when i come back this whole site seems kind of strange with all this talk about banning and whatnot but nevertheless i'm very happy about this. PIRACY SUX !!!

[Andre]

Some people may try to justify downloading ISO loaders to "try the game out."

Yeah, it's called Blockbuster.

[Dirtbike5673]

Originally Posted by Ocelot

One more thing - IP bans are lame. All dial-up users need to do is [Edit: Hey, hey, hey..Don't share the info] to get assigned a new IP, and broadband users can just go somewhere else. Plus people who get IP banned can't even browse the forums - that would suck.

Whoa ... I Think Broadband Users Can Change Their IP Using That Same Method Right ? Was It Off The Command Prompt ?

[Jerry Poser]

With all the ballyhoo about piracy in the last few days I took it upon my self to investigate. Being a technology reporter for the National Press it’s my job to uncover these topics.
Now I was trilled when the PSP-DEV team gave us “Swaploit” this release was a breakthrough in my eyes. Having the ability to play old systems Emu's such as Nintendo, or Genesis was a blast. I have no problem with that or the whole “Homebrew Community” as I am secretly involved in.
All was moving swimmingly until the need for someone to push the envelope further, and further arose.
Yesterday I decided to investigate the whole UMD dumped games issue. The talk was that you could play a pirated game of “Coded Arms”, and others through a Duo card. All you needed was a copy of “Wipeout Pure” to make this happen.
I contacted my sources and got a PSP and a copy of ”Wipeout Pure”, and the illegal pirated files. (One was an auto loader, the other I had to install manually)
After only a few minutes of copying and pasting, I had “Lumines” playing (No Sound), “Coded Arms”, & “Puzzle “Bobble” (with Full sound) I could not believe me eyes. I contacted my source and asked him to get me a real copy of these games to see what the differece was. I played them side by side on two PSP's. The scary thing is that there was no differece.

Now after I had my fun I deleted the files, as I DO NOT SUPPORT PIRACY!!!

I have to admit that however bad this piracy thing is, you have to admit that it’s still amazing that this can be accomplished at such an early stage in the PSP's life.

What I did find out is that if I was a normal consumer and looked at both packages at my local Electronic store I would have hands down chosen “Coded Arms”. However after playing both these games, my choice quickly changed, as I would now choose “Puzzle Bobble”.

With this discovery I would have been angry if I went in the store and picked up a copy of C.A. and played this game.

Which leaves me with the idea that Sony will not be able to fully stop piracy, but can they contain it to a certain degree?

Why not have a place where people can download a bit of a game that there interested in. They would have the ability to judge for themselves if the game was worth their, or Mom & Dad's hard earned cash.
That way the consumer could choose what they want to buy, and not the other way around.

No matter how much you are against piracy, it seems that the only way to really stop it is to contain it.

Jerry Poser

[Spamcan]

As much as I understand why this site would want to stay as far away from these loaders as possable, they also have a ligit use.

I currently own 15 PSP games and would love to be able to run as many of them off my memory stick as possable. Not only would it mean carrying around less UMDs but the greatly improved load times make the system a bit more "pick up and playable".

Oh, and great site BTW.

[Jake]

As morally legitimate as your use it, it is not legally legit, at least in the United States. Unfair, yes... but so are many other parts of the DMCA.

[Spamcan]

True, but not everyone is in the USDMCA.. er... USA.

[Jake]

But the owners of the site are... for now anyways.

[Spamcan]

So what you're saying is that the loaders would be hosted here if everyone involved would just move north?

I hope you like maple syrup and moose.

[brain_stew]

Any backups of any kind are actually illegal in the UK and the rest of the EU aswell I believe. Strangely, this means that technically anyone who puts their CDs on their Ipod is breaking the law, it is a messed up law but it is true.

[XteticX]

I hope you like maple syrup and moose.

Beleive it or not, I tasted both in the same plate.Ahem...sorry

As for the piracy issue, it makes me sad to see great minds working on the darkside or the homebrew scene. I'm sure those folks could bring tons of LEGAL homebrew apps to make the PSP better in other ways.

On another note, I think being greedy and having everything for free kinda ruins the whole expeirence of building your own nice collection of game. All the hours spend reading reviews, looking at demo videos, and finnally picking and getting your hands on that sweet new game box is priceless. Kinda like a brand new car smell, exept its a brand new instruction booklet smell.:P

Sadly, we all know this issue is not about to end...
Piracy is, and will be here to stay. It will be more common in the months to come. And even some of us will probebly cave in to the tamptation and taste the forbident fruit.

Never the less, I am greatly pleased of all the great work and precautions the mods and admins are taking to keep this issue at a distance. :hand: Lets keep it in the safe zones guys! This site is growing healthy, lets keeps it this way.

PS:

Any backups of any kind are actually illegal in the UK and the rest of the EU aswell I believe. Strangely, this means that technically anyone who puts their CDs on their Ipod is breaking the law, it is a messed up law but it is true.

You can always say you eat lost of fast-food and got tons of free music download coupons. lol

[jazzpants]

Doesn't it seem like Sony has really botched it up when it comes to piracy? I mean, there's a fine line to walk when you're trying to market your machine as an all in one media center solution. You have to make it simple to put files on your machine, you want videos and music and photos to all work well and be simple to use. You make your format read only. But it seems like the methods being used to crack these games are so simple! There must have been something Sony could have done to make it more difficult, right? I'm not a super technical minded person, so maybe some of you hackers would know better than I if Sony could have protected themselves better. Maybe there's so many determined hackers that this was inevitable, but I guess I'm saying Sony didn't challenge them much.

Anyone else see the irony in Coded Arms being one of the first hacked games to work? The game glorifies hacking for christ's sake! The whole storyline is about illegally breaking into a system and hacking the crap out of it! What were they thinking? If you can get the iso to run, the intro movie would seem like some perverse post-modern congratulations for successfully hacking the game!

[KINGOFNOOBS]

no offence to sony but they brong this apon themselves.... when the psp first came out they knew a game wouldnt actually use game sharing for a LONG LONG while.... if they knew this why did they even give the psp the abilty to even read EBOOTs they couldve just had a new firmware upgrade when the psp actually got a game that used game sharing

[shodanjr_gr]

I sooooo agree with that.

Sony should have known they were digging their own grave when they gave the psp the ability to even RUN executables of the memory stick...

And while i do not approve of piracy at all i cant say that im saddened by the fact that i dont have to lug 3-4 umds around to play my games :P