UK-based MrModchips was cleared of all 26 counts against him for his role in importing and selling gaming console modchips. You know, the kind that lets you play [cough] backup copies of your video games. The Court of Appeal Criminal Division ruled that modchips do not circumvent copyright protection.

The icing on the cake is that the defendant was "awarded full costs as a result of his successful appeal," Sweet! Can you imagine the look on high-priced lawyers faces representing the multi-billion dollar video gaming industry? Poor Sony. Poor Microsoft. Have to pay the lawyers AND the guy selling modchips that allow pirated, I mean backup copies of your DVD gaming collection to play. Now if only the U.S. had such a policy maybe frivolous lawsuits wouldn't be so bad.

[Via TeamXecuter]