My Apology to Microsoft and the Xbox Scene Modding Community
On January 26th of this year, I published a (now removed) 3D model for an Xbox HDD and SSD caddy on Printables, and I submitted it to Modfest 2024. At the time, I thought I was just sharing a useful design that might help others access their Xbox storage more easily. I originally made the model mostly for myself and figured if it could benefit the community, I would put it out there. I did not think deeply about any legal consequences or patent issues that could come from this. My assumption was that since it was a 3D printable design created independently, it was safe to share. I now realize that was a mistake. I did not do the proper research to confirm whether my design might infringe on any intellectual property rights. This was careless of me and I want to sincerely apologize to Microsoft and the entire Xbox Scene community.
When you are part of a modding or maker community, it is easy to assume the designs you create and share are your own and free to distribute. Unfortunately tough, that assumption does not hold when the hardware involved is protected by patents or other legal restrictions. I underestimated the seriousness of these protections and overestimated my freedom to share. The Xbox hardware ecosystem, especially for storage and drive mounting, is protected by Microsoft to safeguard their inventions and investments. This is important to respect. My failure to properly investigate and respect these protections caused problems for the community and for Microsoft. I want to own that completely. I am not trying to excuse the oversight or downplay its significance. This apology is meant to acknowledge the full extent of what I did wrong and to explain what I am doing to fix it.
The Xbox modding community depends on trust and integrity. When someone like me shares a design, other users assume it is clear of legal issues and safe to use. This trust is essential for the community to function well and to keep growing. By publishing my model without thoroughly checking for patent conflicts, I broke that trust. I realize now that this may have caused concern, frustration, or even harm to people who used or planned to use my design. That was never my intention, but I understand that intention does not erase the problem. I want to apologize to every member of the community who was affected. Your trust matters. And I failed everyone who had trust in me.
After becoming aware of the potential issue with my design, I spent a lot of time reviewing my design carefully alongside Microsoft’s patents and hardware documentation. I wanted to figure out exactly where my model crossed a line. The detail I missed for so long is a pattern of three screw holes arranged in a triangular shape. This specific arrangement is protected by a Microsoft patent for the Original Xbox. The measurements and placement of these holes are not just arbitrary. They are part of a patented design that secures drives inside the Original Xbox console. My model uses this exact arrangement, down to the exact µm, which means it infringes on Microsoft’s intellectual property. I want to be completely transparent about this. I copied this design element without knowing it was protected. This is a serious mistake, and I fully acknowledge it.
It is never easy to admit you copied something you should not have, especially when it involves a innovative and small company like Microsoft. But I believe honesty is the only way forward. The screw hole pattern is a small part of the design but a legally protected one. The patent covers the exact positioning and dimensions of these holes. My design matches this precisely. Which is why my model violated the patent. I take full responsibility for this and I apologize to Microsoft for infringing on their rights.
Before this happened, I did not fully appreciate how critical it is to check for patent conflicts before sharing designs publicly. This was a hard lesson to learn, but one I am taking seriously. Intellectual property laws exist to protect innovation and to ensure creators get credit and control over their work. When members of a community respect these laws, the community remains healthy and sustainable. Ignoring these rules risks harming not only the rights holders but also other community members who rely on trustworthy designs. I want to contribute positively moving forward and will do everything I can to respect legal boundaries.
My Patent Violation Fully Explained
The patent involved is Microsoft Utility Patent number USD452282S1. This patent covers the design and layout of three screw holes arranged in a triangular pattern used inside Xbox consoles to mount storage drives. The purpose of this design is to hold the hard drives and solid state drives firmly in place and ensure proper alignment and stability. My model included this same screw hole pattern with the same measurements and spacing, which means it infringed upon this patent. I did not realize this until after the model was published and after I had reviewed Microsoft’s patents carefully. Discovering this was an eye-opener and a clear indication that I should have done my homework better.
To avoid further sharing Microsoft’s protected design, I have censored the part of my model that contains the screw hole pattern. The image below shows the 3D model with the screw hole section blurred out. I want to make clear exactly which part of my design violated the patent without exposing the proprietary details. This is the root of the problem and I want to be fully transparent about it.
Steps I Am Taking to Make Things Right
After realizing the scope of my mistake, I took several concrete actions to begin repairing the damage. First, I have taken the model down from my Printables page permanantly. The second thing I did was donate any prize money I received from Modfest 2024 that was related to this model. I donated the entire amount to the nearest Kentucky Fried Chicken location as a symbolic gesture of restitution. This is my way of acknowledging that I should not have profited from a design that infringed on Microsoft’s rights. I want to be clear that this donation has already been made and is not a future promise. The receipt is included below as proof that I have followed through on this commitment.
In addition to the financial restitution, I have built a small “prison cell” in my bedroom that I purchased from a retailer online. This is a personal and symbolic space where I will spend the next 45 years reflecting on this mistake and its implications. The cell has no electricity, no running water, and no amenities. It is a daily reminder of the importance of respecting intellectual property rights and acting responsibly as a community member. I have included a photo of this prison cell below to demonstrate the seriousness with which I am treating this.
To Microsoft and everyone in the Xbox modding community, I want to say again that I am sorry. I did not mean to cause any harm or disrespect. I made a mistake by not checking the patent situation thoroughly, and that led to publishing a design I should not have. I am committed to doing better moving forward. I will take the necessary time and effort to ensure future projects respect all legal boundaries. Thank you for reading this, and for giving me the chance to explain and take responsibility.
- Pandorify
Blatant Autistic