So, looks like the ps3 is completely hacked.

[nsafreak]

I'm in India now. AFAIK the indian ISP could care less what I steal. So I'm really going to go to town now and start pirating again.

Which means I will probably get a copy of SCII and every other PC game I have missed. I tried to buy Assassin's Creed from Amazon download (actually I did buy it but the download keeps getting interrupted so now I am going to get it from a torrent). I feel I have bought more than enough games, given enough to the gaming community, so if I steal now it is okay.

Wow, talk about not having any scruples.

 

[Dumac]

I'm in India now. AFAIK the indian ISP could care less what I steal. So I'm really going to go to town now and start pirating again.

Which means I will probably get a copy of SCII and every other PC game I have missed. I tried to buy Assassin's Creed from Amazon download (actually I did buy it but the download keeps getting interrupted so now I am going to get it from a torrent). I feel I have bought more than enough games, given enough to the gaming community, so if I steal now it is okay.

Wrong.

I'm sure that you may think that hacking ruined the online community, but in reality, I bet that it was the Wii's terrible lack of online features that have killed basically every online game for the Wii.

Mario Kart Wii still has a good number of people online. I still play now and then, and never have trouble finding a lobby. Still, I always quit after I run into a hacker, which usually doesn't take long.

which was like 2-3 months after the wii was released.

So sad

 

[novasatori]

I am eagerly awaiting native media playback on the device without transcoding so that I don't have to buy a separate media playing device

 

[Bman123]

This is just bad news, they go all public with this shit and now the little kiddies are so happy that they dont have to pay for games anymore and now they can cheat and get away with it. I've already seen ads on craigslist with people trying to sell modding services

 

[Sniper82]

looking at the ps3 news GeoHot(one of the PS3 hackers or maybe the biggest one) got served to court by Sony.

 

[EightySix Four]

looking at the ps3 news GeoHot(one of the PS3 hackers or maybe the biggest one) got served to court by Sony.

Actually, the fail0verflow team did most of the work, Geohot took it one notch farther and then decided to actually release the key.

 

[Terzo]

looking at the ps3 news GeoHot(one of the PS3 hackers or maybe the biggest one) got served to court by Sony.

Since I know nothing about law, can anyone tell me if Sony has a good case here? I'd be pulling for the hackers either way, but citing the DMCA in their suit only has me hating on Sony more.

 

[Pr0d1gy]

I wish they cared as much about people cheating online in multiplayer PSN games as they do about a few thousand people who MIGHT pirate some games.

 

[EightySix Four]

Since I know nothing about law, can anyone tell me if Sony has a good case here? I'd be pulling for the hackers either way, but citing the DMCA in their suit only has me hating on Sony more.

Of course they can win this suit. The key is intellectual property in itself, and its release is a violation of the property rights of the holder (sony). It'll be interesting to see how it plays out.

 

[Ross Ridge]

Of course they can win this suit. The key is intellectual property in itself, and its release is a violation of the property rights of the holder (sony). It'll be interesting to see how it plays out.

The key isn't intellectual property. It's not a trademark, an invention or a creative work. It may not even be a violation of the DMCA to release the keys since the keys alone aren't actually a tool that breaks the PlayStation 3's copy protection. You have to do more than just tell people how it can be done.

Of course, Geohot did more than release the keys, but the DMCA and this lawsuit don't really matter much if these guys don't live in the US. All Sony is really can accomplish is take down some websites. That and make a bunch of lawyers rich.

 

[BD2003]

Since I know nothing about law, can anyone tell me if Sony has a good case here? I'd be pulling for the hackers either way, but citing the DMCA in their suit only has me hating on Sony more.

Its not really suit per se yet, just a request for a restraining order. In other words, they want geohot and fail0verflow to put the genie back in the bottle. Since they obviously cant, theyll probably be sued in short order.

All in all, it'll be an exercise in futility that will do nothing but make a few lawyers rich and convince a few shareholders that they tried to protect their IP. Half of the fail0verflow guys dont even live in the US, and certainly wont be visiting anytime soon. Given how geohot was trying to secure a job from Sony and them, he probably doesnt have one, and thus, any money.

And theres no way in the world these tools are going to disappear from the internet.

So basically, much ado about nothing, but itll be interesting.

 

[EightySix Four]

The key isn't intellectual property. It's not a trademark, an invention or a creative work. It may not even be a violation of the DMCA to release the keys since the keys alone aren't actually a tool that breaks the PlayStation 3's copy protection. You have to do more than just tell people how it can be done.

Of course, Geohot did more than release the keys, but the DMCA and this lawsuit don't really matter much if these guys don't live in the US. All Sony is really can accomplish is take down some websites. That and make a bunch of lawyers rich.

Actually, if you recall back to the AACS key controversy, it is argued by many large companies and their law firms (successfully forcing many sites to remove the key) that the keys themselves are intellectual property AND break the anti-circumvention provision of the DMCA.

I don't agree with it, but companies have asserted that private keys are IP before, and will do it again.

Its not really suit per se yet, just a request for a restraining order. In other words, they want geohot and fail0verflow to put the genie back in the bottle. Since they obviously cant, theyll probably be sued in short order.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/46739943/Complaint

It's a suit now.

All in all, it'll be an exercise in futility that will do nothing but make a few lawyers rich and convince a few shareholders that they tried to protect their IP. Half of the fail0verflow guys dont even live in the US, and certainly wont be visiting anytime soon. Given how geohot was trying to secure a job from Sony and them, he probably doesnt have one, and thus, any money

IIRC he's a college student and quite the douchebag in person, at least that's what others have said.

 

[BD2003]

IIRC he's a college student and quite the douchebag in person, at least that's what others have said.

Yeah, I believe that. The whole "I'd love to work for the other side" can even be construed as attempted blackmail.

I wonder who if anyone is going to step up to the plate to defend him. Seems like its going to be a very tricky legal battle, but even sony can make their complaint stick, it's still going to be largely a pyrrhic victory. At best he'll be made an example of.

 

[her209]

http://www.betanews.com/article/Sony-sues-Hotz-hacking-group-over-PS3-hacks/1294869035

Sony has filed suit against George Hotz -- more commonly known for his work in jailbreaking iPhones -- and a hacker group called "failoverfl0w," accusing both of copyright infringement and other related charges over their work to circumvent Sony's PlayStation 3 copyright protection.

The Japanese game maker is partially at fault here, having failed to use properly secure cryptography in order to ensure that pirated software can not run on the console. Hackers discovered the private key, and now can allow copied versions of games to run on the console without any issues.

Hotz and the others are being charged with breach of contract, several copyright infringement charges, as well as violations of copyright law in the state of California. Sony seeks both injunctive relief and punitive damages.

"Hackers will succeed in their attempts to ensure that pirated software can be run on the PS3 system, resulting in the destruction of SCEA's business" unless the court takes actions, Sony argues in the suit.

While failoverfl0w only published a video showing proof that the crack was possible, Hotz himself actually released a modified version of the PS3 hardware allowing for the running of non-signed software. It should be noted that originally hackers were looking to run Linux on the console, but it could just as easily be used for less than legal purposes as well.

Hotz seems not to be concerned about the legal action against him. "I would expect a company that prides itself on intellectual property to be well versed in the provisions of the law, so I am disappointed in Sony's current action," he told the BBC. "I have spoken with legal counsel and I feel comfortable that Sony's action against me doesn't have any basis."

The lawsuit was filed in the US District Court of Northern California.

Why did Sony remove the Other OS option? Wonder how they feel about it now?

 

[EightySix Four]

Yeah, I believe that. The whole "I'd love to work for the other side" can even be construed as attempted blackmail.

I wonder who if anyone is going to step up to the plate to defend him. Seems like its going to be a very tricky legal battle, but even sony can make their complaint stick, it's still going to be largely a pyrrhic victory. At best he'll be made an example of.

Actually, I think a lawyer would chomp at the bit for this one. Geohot's case is based on re-enabling a feature Sony turned off after the console was already sold and will push the edges of the DMCA and how far companies can go with their license agreements. It's an interesting case that will be in the news for a while.

It would be like Nissan finding out that tuners were unlocking the GT-R's PCM and upping the boost (Using OtherOS as an entry point for a hack)... So they require the car to be taken to the dealership and the turbos removed before it can pass state inspections (get online). The car still works, but it's definitely been butchered, is it unfair for owners to try and keep their turbos?

 

[gorcorps]

http://www.betanews.com/article/Sony-sues-Hotz-hacking-group-over-PS3-hacks/1294869035


Why did Sony remove the Other OS option? Wonder how they feel about it now?

Hah, I like this part:

"Hackers will succeed in their attempts to ensure that pirated software can be run on the PS3 system, resulting in the destruction of SCEA's business" unless the court takes actions, Sony argues in the suit.

People found out how to copy PS2 games, and even figured out how to store them on a hard drive. PS1 games weren't too much harder than just burning the disc either. But I'm sure this time SCEA will be destroyed.

 

[mmntech]

Sony is fighting a loosing battle. The hackers have yet to give in to bullying via litigation. Yet the keep doing it and keep wasting the courts' precious time. Its hard to feel sorry for huge multibillion dollar corporation going after a lone hobbiest. this is the same company that removed a feature, that they promoted and sold systems on, to prevent piracy. It doesn't matter if hardly anybody used it. It was still advertised and it was unethical to remove it. This reeks of the BMG scandal back in 2005. Similar circumstances. Prevent piracy by screwing over paying customers.

Ironically, the same thing that pushed me away from PC gamig a few years ago is what's ultimately pushing me back towards it. Anti piracy measures run amok and screwing paying customers. I pay for all my games but I appreciate an open platform to tweak and mod as I please.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Sony is fighting a loosing battle. The hackers have yet to give in to bullying via litigation. Yet the keep doing it and keep wasting the courts' precious time. Its hard to feel sorry for huge multibillion dollar corporation going after a lone hobbiest. this is the same company that removed a feature, that they promoted and sold systems on, to prevent piracy. It doesn't matter if hardly anybody used it. It was still advertised and it was unethical to remove it. This reeks of the BMG scandal back in 2005. Similar circumstances. Prevent piracy by screwing over paying customers.

Ironically, the same thing that pushed me away from PC gamig a few years ago is what's ultimately pushing me back towards it. Anti piracy measures run amok and screwing paying customers. I pay for all my games but I appreciate an open platform to tweak and mod as I please.

curious. How does this screw ocer paying customers

 

[Ross Ridge]

Actually, if you recall back to the AACS key controversy, it is argued by many large companies and their law firms (successfully forcing many sites to remove the key) that the keys themselves are intellectual property AND break the anti-circumvention provision of the DMCA.

Quicking looking over Sony's injunction motion they weren't making that claim. They were accused of making a "device" that violated the DMCA. They did claim that key was a password as part of their computer fraud argument, but that not the same thing as saying it's intellectual property. Judges in the US are all pretty activist, and have expanded intellectual property rights far beyond what the law actually says, but ruling that a randomly generated number is some sort of IP would be stretch even for them.

 

[BD2003]

curious. How does this screw ocer paying customers

Isnt it obvious? People paid for a PS3 that can do OtherOS, and Sony remotely removed it without any real warning. It doesnt matter that 99% of people couldnt care less about the feature, when for that 1%, sony basically remotely destroyed their device.

On top of that, it did NOTHING to stop piracy, as basically everyone knew it wouldnt.

 

[Tristicus]

Isnt it obvious? People paid for a PS3 that can do OtherOS, and Sony remotely removed it without any real warning. It doesnt matter that 99% of people couldnt care less about the feature, when for that 1%, sony basically remotely destroyed their device.

On top of that, it did NOTHING to stop piracy, as basically everyone knew it wouldnt.

1% or less paid for a PS3 to do that. The PS3 was never advertised as a device that did that. It was an unimportant feature.

 

[bl4ckfl4g]

1% or less paid for a PS3 to do that. The PS3 was never advertised as a device that did that. It was an unimportant feature.

Wasn't it listed on the box?.....That is advertising ya know.

 

[purbeast0]

1% or less paid for a PS3 to do that. The PS3 was never advertised as a device that did that. It was an unimportant feature.

uh, yes, ps3 WAS advertised as a device that ran linux.

 

[BD2003]

1% or less paid for a PS3 to do that. The PS3 was never advertised as a device that did that. It was an unimportant feature.

Sure, it was an unimportant feature....unless it was important to you. Despite that fact that the vast majority of people didn't care, it was a dick move by Sony. It's yet another example of companies doing stuff to combat piracy which in the end do nothing but inconvenience or hurt the actual paying customers, while doing absolutely zero to combat piracy.

It's certainly a convenient excuse for the hackers to use and a great outlet for nerd rage. Still, it was a bad move on their part. If suing a massive multinational corporation was a trivial thing, I'd say there'd be a decent case against Sony for what they did.

 

[Tristicus]

Sure, it was an unimportant feature....unless it was important to you. Despite that fact that the vast majority of people didn't care, it was a dick move by Sony. It's yet another example of companies doing stuff to combat piracy which in the end do nothing but inconvenience or hurt the actual paying customers, while doing absolutely zero to combat piracy.

It's certainly a convenient excuse for the hackers to use and a great outlet for nerd rage. Still, it was a bad move on their part. If suing a massive multinational corporation was a trivial thing, I'd say there'd be a decent case against Sony for what they did.

But the fact is, it was an unimportant feature to more than 99% of the user base. Sony didn't remove it just to say "OH HAHA NO FEATURES FOR YOU". They didn't remove it to reduce cost, they just removed it because they were blindly scared that something might happen with Geohot trying to crack it as well as others, and didn't realize the outcomes. Honestly, from what most people said it was primarily useless anyways without access to the RSX. What other reason would you have to use it? Most people who thought of running it already knew about Linux already, so therefore used it on their PCs. The only thing would be for a supercomputer/military, and they probably never upgraded their firmware regardless. There was absolutely no point to remove it from the standpoint we see NOW, but there was little to no point in keeping it either besides to please the 100 people that used it a little bit.