Monday, March 19, 2007

Wii causing the Taiwanese government anxiety

And no, not from bootleggers. In a post notable for it's positively atrocious English translation, a Taiwanese blogger noted the Taiwanese government cracking down on the sale of as-of-yet unauthorized Wiis. The issue isn't so much with the Wii itself (or its "grey market" status right now), but with its WiFi & Bluetooth capability.

Because the console has yet to be officially released in Taiwan, the government is pulling the "But our government agency hasn't certified it yet!" card & now limited how many Wiis can be brought in by travelers.

The Telecommunications Act states that people who produce, sell, import or publicly display uncertified wireless goods will receive penalties ranging from NT$100,000 to NT$500,000. [from $3,000 to $15,000 USD]

The NCC said it will inspect stores that sell uncertified Wii game consuls [sic], but will not break into individual houses and issue fines to the owners of the toy.


Although I haven't smuggled a Wii here, it's good to know that if I did, the police wouldn't be busting down my door at 3 AM to confiscate it and slap me with a fine. Still, they say after filling out the proper documentation, people coming back into the country with their Wiis will have no problems after getting their little sticker. Having seen the magic of the Taiwanese bureaucracy up close & personal, I'm not so sure about that.

Wii入關需貼功率標誌 2台內旅客免稅放行
Wii sellers to face stiff fines, NCC warns [Taiwan Headlines]

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