All that means is that flashcards will need updates much more often. The 3DS firmware updates will just help them recognise invalid cards and not run them, just like the updates for the DSi did.epicCreations.org said:according to this source I dug up, translated by this site,
QUOTE said:[...]During a Q&A session at the briefing, an attendee asked if Nintendo would be implementing anti-piracy measures via the internet. Replied Iwata, "As part of the functionality of SpotPass, we're looking into having automatic system updates via the internet."[...]
QUOTE[...]"Past firmware update methods have required that the player manually initiate the update. In Nintendo's experience, said Iwata, players did not do this very much."[...]
I can't check myself as I'm at school but I'll be sure to check when I get home.
Does anyone actually believe that there will be a firmware version that will brick your handheld if you run an unofficial cartridge? Can you imagine what would happen if a sweet little child (unknowingly) bought a fake cartridge while on vacation at a labour country and his/her 3DS got bricked because of that? Shitstorms like the kind that would ensue from such situations are probably the last thing Nintendo wants.
They will do whatever they can to prevent fake cartridges from running but at the same time they don't want to harm their own customers.