PS3 Hackers Gagged by Temporary Restraining Order

PS3 hacker George Hotz and homebrew group fail0verflow have been gagged from posting details or distributing jailbreak information on the console, after Sony was granted a temporary restraining order in a Californian District Court.

There was some deliberation as to whether Sony's case against the hackers would stand, due to jurisdiction concerns. It seems that the court has decided that California's as good a place as any to host such a landmark case.

As a result of the restraining order, Hotz and friends are forbidden from hacking into the PlayStation 3, distributing any information discovered whilst hacking or linking to jailbreak software (presumably either their own or someone else's). They have also been ordered to turn in any computers or storage used to create the jailbreak to Sony's lawyers. Controversial.

Sony still needs to win its formal case against the defendants in order to earn any compensation and injunctions. As Engadget notes, the company has simply proven that as the case continues, the presence of any jailbreak software will cause harm to its business. Shame it's already out there though, really - you know what the internet's like...