First ever conviction for modifying a videogames console has been issued to a 22 year old man who was chipping Xbox's.

The man convicted has yet to be named, but has received 140 hours of community service and a fine of £750. The 22 year old Cambridge Graduate was found guilty under the EU Copyright Directive, which basically rules that it is illegal to bypass copy protection systems on devices such as games consoles. The man's equipment has also been seized: three PCs, two printers, three Xbox consoles and 38 hard drives.

The man had been selling modified Xbox's, complete with upgraded hard drives containing eighty Xbox games for £380 via his website. ELSPA are quite rightly very pleased with the conviction, no doubt hoping this case will now set a precedent for future cases.

"This case sets a major precedent which marks a milestone in the fight against piracy," said Michael Rawlinson, ELSPA's deputy director general. "It sends a clear message to anyone tempted to become involved in chipping consoles that this is a criminal offence and will be dealt with accordingly."

"The modification of consoles is an activity that ELSPA's anti-piracy team is prioritising. It is encouraging to see the UK courts do the same."

This was definitely a big victory for ELSPA and everyone involved in the videogames industry, but you have to wonder if the man would even have been targeted, had he not been supplying thousands of pounds of illegal Xbox software with the modified console. We will wait and see if this ruling opens the gates for many other convictions.