An open letter from bunnie, author of Hacking the Xbox (2013)

http://www.nostarch.com/xboxfree

by bootload • 11 years ago

94 14 11 years ago

ljf• 11 years ago

Can we get (2013) added to the title?

If you've never been involved in a serious lawsuit there are no words that can sufficiently describe how soul crushing it is. To feebly defend yourself against the mighty US government is unbearable. When the Feds tell lies in court what are you supposed to do, sue them? I'd laugh but all I can muster is a frail cry.

Quequau• 11 years ago

It's interesting how one popular post about nearly anything, will prompt people dredge up all sorts of things from past.

I suppose today's it's all things Bunnie.

neindanke3• 11 years ago

I started rebuilding my life overseas

Doesn't Bunnie now live in Singapore, not exactly a place known for freedom and empathy for the common man? What does he mean rebuilding his life?

omilu2• 11 years ago

Parent is getting downvoted, but he/she makes a legitimate point. As someone who spent some time in Singapore, it is an awesome place, great food and people and completely beautiful. But they will hang your ass for an ounce of weed, cops can search you without a warrent https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misuse_of_Drugs_Act_(Singapore..., and cane you for graffitti. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_P._Fay

Parent was just pointing out the irony.

balls2you• 11 years ago

Yes, but Singapore doesn't prosecute you for reverse engineering. That's why he is there. Your point of irony is directed towards other acts that are not relevant to Bunnie's situation.

neindanke3• 11 years ago

they will hang your ass

Technically, they hang the victim by his/her neck until death. Execution is applied even for non-violent crimes, like being found in possession of drugs, even small quantities like less than 1 ounce of heroin. Most recent hanging in Singapore was July 2014.

http://www.singapore-window.org/sw03/030926a3.htm

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/singapore-hangs-two-convicted-drug...

jdonaldson• 11 years ago

The worst part about universities is their tendency to claim IP rights on any ideas produced by a student, but deny responsibility for any ideas that might cause them any sort of inconvenience.

currywurst• 11 years ago

What an admirable stand by the AI Lab, in spite of the typical shenanigans of legal. I hope we have the same fortitude to stand up to defend those we are responsible for.

harwoodleon• 11 years ago

"Might is right" pretty much sums up the global legal infrastructure everywhere. USA is not party to some special case here, I think all hacking activity should be high risk for the individual(because all hacking is not ethical) and it is right that the law protect citizens from the unethical hackers that are able to affect us all in bad ways. For every Robin Hood there are many more who just don't care. I do think that hacking is required, simply as a check and balance against large institutions - but as an established practice like journalism, which is subject to special legal cases.

As with drug misuse, the penalty for me is the issue here. It's a lack of understanding about the causes or reasons behind the crime, a blunt response. Rethink or reduce the penalties and the practice becomes more attractive to people prepared to take the risk, for the right reasons.

This is a moral issue that will only become more complex, but embattling the issue into camps of the individual against the corporation will only serve the legal industry, not society at large.

plow• 11 years ago

I'm beginning to think that mentioning a university is the same as mentioning race irrelevantly.

nate_meurer• 11 years ago

Hacking the Xbox should be required reading for CS students. It is a seminal work -- splendidly written, dense and accessible, and perhaps more enlightening of the work of computer "systems engineering" than any other book I've ever read.

An open letter from bunnie, author of Hacking the Xbox (2013)

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