Washington - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced that it conducted raids on businesses, storefronts and residences on Wednesday in 16 states, related to an investigation into the alleged sale and distribution of illegal video game console mod chips and disc copyright circumvention devices.

ICE said such mod chips and devices, which allow users to play pirated versions of video games, violate the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).

The raids targeted devices that are of foreign manufacture and smuggled into the U.S.

The agency said its "Operation Tangled Web" enforcement action was the result of a year-long investigation, but did not release the names or addresses of those targeted.

"These crimes cost legitimate businesses billions of dollars annually and facilitate multiple other layers of criminality, such as smuggling, software piracy and money laundering," said Julie L. Myers, Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

"Plain and simple, selling and distributing products to illegally bypass game consoles' piracy protections is a crime with real-life consequences," added Michael D. Gallagher, president of the video game industry trade group the Entertainment Software Association.

"This is not a game; we're talking jail time. Enforcement initiatives of this scope send a clear message to both the public and pirate community that this illegal activity will not be tolerated."

Related Links:
http://www.ice.gov/pi/news/newsreleases/articles/070801washington.htm

http://www.theesa.com