Original URL: http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/03/27/nintendo_acts_against_modchips/
Nintendo is reportedly tweaking the Wii's internal workings to prevent the use of console modification chips.
According to Taiwanese retailers cited (http://www.digitimes.com/systems/a20070327PD201.html) by local newssite DigiTimes, the latest Wiis sport a modified motherboard intended to make it harder if not impossible to add existing modchips - at least not without damaging the system.
Modchips are typically used to allow games consoles to play games copied onto DVD°R/RW media. Nintendo and other console vendors claim these are all pirate copies - many modchip users maintain they're back-ups made to prevent the original discs being damaged.
Maybe, but not every country permits such back-ups to be made, and Nintendo's software licence terms forbid it, so quite a few modchip users are on shaky ground even if they're using copies of discs they've purchased and still own.
Either way, expect modchip makers to explore new ways of fitting their products to the Wii, and likewise for Nintendo to seek methods of thwarting them.
UK appeal court dismisses mod chip conviction (13 June 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/06/13/appeal_court_weighs_in_on_modchips/
Nintendo pledges to pour out more Wiis (27 April 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/04/27/nintendo_to_boost_wii_production/
Nintendo upgrades Wii web browser (12 April 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/04/12/wii_internet_channel_updated/
Nintendo nudges sales forecast upward (5 April 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/04/05/nintendo_ups_sales_forecast/
Wii wins in US during February (2 April 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/04/02/us_wii_sales/
Three charged over Xbox chipping (21 December 2005)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/12/21/outlaw_xbox_mods/
Sony loses Aussie PlayStation mod chip case (6 October 2005)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/10/06/aussie_chipmod/
Xbox chipper jailed and fined (16 September 2005)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/09/16/xbox_chipper_jailed/
US games software giants target UK mod-chip supplier (15 August 2005)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/08/15/esa_vs_gwd/
Judge deems PS2 mod chips illegal in UK (21 July 2004)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/07/21/ps2_mod_chip_win/
Spanish judge rules X-Box mods 'legal' (27 April 2004)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/04/27/spanish_xbox_modding_ruling/