Sony Sues PS3 Hacker "Conspiracy" Over Encryption Leak
Console manufacturer truly hacked off.
Sony has filed a lawsuit against the people responsible for cracking the PlayStation 3 wide open, according to documents posted by George Hotz and hacking team fail0verflow.
Just a week ago it was announced by members of the fail0verflow group that it had found a way to circumvent the security encryption process for PlayStation 3 software. Hotz later published the means for hackers to build their own unauthorised software on the console, with Sony unable to correct the hardware issue.
The court filings, available to read on both hackers' websites, shows that Hotz, Hector Martin, Sven Cantero and some 100 John Does are being addressed to pay for "injuctive relief and damages based on violations of the Digital Millennium Act," along with claims of computer fraud, copyright infringement, breach of contract and common law misappropriation among others. Basically, Sony's taking no prisoners.
"Defendants were aware of and knew the unlawful and tortious quality of their collective conduct," the legal complaint reads. It also states that because "Defendants committed to form a conspiracy with knowledge of the conspiracy's unlawful nature" each and every person named in the document is as liable as each other. Ouch.
We guess Hotz won't be getting a call to work with Sony on its next console after all.
Just a week ago it was announced by members of the fail0verflow group that it had found a way to circumvent the security encryption process for PlayStation 3 software. Hotz later published the means for hackers to build their own unauthorised software on the console, with Sony unable to correct the hardware issue.
The court filings, available to read on both hackers' websites, shows that Hotz, Hector Martin, Sven Cantero and some 100 John Does are being addressed to pay for "injuctive relief and damages based on violations of the Digital Millennium Act," along with claims of computer fraud, copyright infringement, breach of contract and common law misappropriation among others. Basically, Sony's taking no prisoners.
"Defendants were aware of and knew the unlawful and tortious quality of their collective conduct," the legal complaint reads. It also states that because "Defendants committed to form a conspiracy with knowledge of the conspiracy's unlawful nature" each and every person named in the document is as liable as each other. Ouch.
We guess Hotz won't be getting a call to work with Sony on its next console after all.
Companies:
Sony
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Comments
ohms 12 Jan 2011 12:05
1/5
Guess they don't want all those extra hardware sales that this hack would most certainly bring them....
Dreadknux 12 Jan 2011 12:17
2/5
ohms wrote:
Guess they don't want all those extra hardware sales that this hack would most certainly bring them....
Console manufacturers make a bet on software giving them the profits, not hardware. If Sony's selling more PS3s but absolutely no software due to piracy, then I think that would be a bigger problem for them.
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DrkStr 12 Jan 2011 12:19
3/5
Svend Joscelyne wrote:
ohms wrote:
Guess they don't want all those extra hardware sales that this hack would most certainly bring them....
Console manufacturers make a bet on software giving them the profits, not hardware. If Sony's selling more PS3s but absolutely no software due to piracy, then I think that would be a bigger problem for them.
Also Sony have to keep their platforms protected because they have a responsibility to other publishes who put games onto PS3, etc. Without COD or FIFA the PS3 will have a s**te year.
bertybassett 12 Jan 2011 13:41
4/5
Sony are already have a trouble couple of years and this really is just the icing on the cake. Its now game over for Sony.
Dreadknux 12 Jan 2011 14:19
5/5
bertybassett wrote:
Sony are already have a trouble couple of years and this really is just the icing on the cake. Its now game over for Sony.
On the contrary, Sony could get away with the hacks by focusing more heavily on the PlayStation Network service. Hackers may be able to use the "I bought it so nyeh" argument, but the same doesn't ring true for online services that one subscribes to. I think we're going to see Sony leaning more towards its online networking for the PS3 and block consoles using unauthorised software from that access. We're starting to see it already in the PlayStation iPhone App and Sony's intent on integrating PSN with other devices. This could be the Get Out of Jail (so to speak) card for the company.