Is it legal to run Linux on your Xbox

From Xbox-Linux

trerc4t by Michael Steil, 01 Oct 2003

Many people wonder whether it is legal to run Linux on their Xbox. They heard about modchips, they heard rumours that these are illegal. So do you have to be afraid of eventually finding yourself in jail, because you used the Xbox as a Linux computer? Is there a chance that Microsoft will take away your Xbox or they will sue you for compensation?

What the Xbox Linux Project says

The Xbox Linux Project has always been saying that running Linux on the Xbox was completely legal, since it is your property and you can do whatever you want with it. You say, you don't trust us?

What about asking Microsoft? We have tried to contact Microsoft several times, but nobody has ever replied.

What Microsoft says

The press has tried the same, many times; most times they got answers like "The Xbox is a great gaming console." At least once the outside world got an insightful comment from a Microsoft representative.

Hans Stettmeier (http://www.microsoft.com/germany/ms/unternehmensinformationen/gmbh_profil/management/stettmeier.htm) leads the Home & Retail Division of Microsoft Germany. He says:

Im Grunde genommen ist es so: Sie können jedes Produkt, das Sie kaufen, zerlegen, zerhacken, zerschlagen; das ist Ihre persönliche Entscheidung. Ich gehe davon aus, dass es ganz ganz wenige Menschen gibt, die das tun; wenn die das tun wollen, ist es ihre Sache.

Translated into English:

Basically it is like this: You can disassemble, chop, smash every product you buy; this is your personal decision. I assume that there are very very few people who do that; but if they want to do that, it is their business.

What this means

Although Mr. Stettmeier never referred to running Linux on the Xbox, which seems to be common policy of Microsoft representatives when asked about it, what he said makes clear that Microsoft is aware of the fact that users can do with their property whatever they like - which confirms what the Xbox Linux Project has always been saying.

Yes, it is just as legal as installing Linux on your regular PC.