No Deal in Xbox Modding Case, Trial Begins

LOS ANGELES — Federal authorities in the first-of-its-kind Xbox modding trial opened their case here Wednesday, hours after the judge called a recess to give the government time to reach a plea deal or dismiss the case. The government decided to forge ahead in the landmark trial after U. S. District Judge Philip Gutierrez gave the government a little breathing room on the standard of proof required to convict defendant Matthew Crippen on two counts of breaching the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.