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Sony to Pirates, “We gon’ find you!”
If you’ve visited PS3 jailbreaker George “Geohotz” Hotz’s site since January 2009, Sony’s gonna get your deets. Federal magistrate Joseph Spero has granted Sony the right to subpoena Bluehost, Hotz’s web provider, giving them access to “documents reproducing all server logs, IP address logs, account information, account access records and application or registration forms” as well as “any other identifying information corresponding to persons or computers who have accessed [www.geohot.com].”
Furthermore, Sony has access to YouTube, Google and Twitter data linked to Hotz and his followers. Sony claims the subpoenaed information will be used as proof that Geohot did distribute information on how to hack the PS3 and determine where best to hold the court hearing. Hotz resides in New Jersey, but Sony would rather sue him in San Francisco because they claim most of the hack downloads occurred in Northern California.
Corynne McSherry, staff attorney of the Electronic Frontier Foundation called the subpoenas “overly broad” and said to Magistrate Spero “I think the these subpoenas, the information they seek, is inappropriate.”
The most recent post on Hotz site reads: “Media, I need your help. This is the first time I have ever asked. Please, if you support this cause, help me out and spread the word. I want, by the time this goes to trial, to have Sony facing some of the hardest hitting lawyers in the business. Together, we can help fix the system.”
To be sure, piracy is wrong, but Hotz didn’t technically pirate anything; he just hacked his PS3 as he has done with the iPhone in the past. Maybe Hotz should be stopped, maybe he shouldn’t, that’s really up to the courts, but at a certain point, Sony is crossing the line, right?
[via Wired]
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I think they’re just trying to make an example of him and scare off pirates. Sony is in fact making a big -Blam! of themselves and are also scaring current and potential PS3 users, including myself. M$ had the right idea of just banning the system from online use.
Wow, the judge did pretty much hand Sony everything. Seems that his rights and privacy were stripped away from what seems to be a civil matter. Hopefully some group takes this issue up such as Anonymous. Seems Sony is far overreaching in this matter. Glad I didn’t support Sony and buy a PS3 or 2 for that matter.
LOL
In most countries besides the USA, this is illegal, and our ISP’s could sue Sony if they do start actually using that data to send out mail, warnings or pretty much anything.
I would love to see that happen!
yeah, I installed CFW, but no, I didn’t pirate. they cant assume people jailbreak only to pirate. also, dynamic ip :D
I approve Hotz’s morals and reasons,Sony is trying way too hard to sue him,it’s like an obsession with them.Geohot tries to talk his way through this,while Sony is taking drastic actions.And also many,many people downloaded the hack for other reasons than just to pirate PS3 games.Here’s my word to Sony: Stop this already,this will certainly not solve your problem.You can only ease the damage taken and try to find a rational workaround for the problem,like MS.Besides,you completely forgot that Valve is bringing the #1 PC DRM system to your “baby”-Steam,use this to your advantage,make your customers happy,don’t bother with some guy that hacked your platform just to return an original PS3 feature,which you removed.Look at the big picture,pride does not generate money.
What about the people that downloaded the hack but decided not to use it?
@gtw1212 They’re watching you.
The title: “We Gona Find You” makes me think of this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKsVSBhSwJg&feature=relmfu
Has to be done, you know ;-)
@Lesovikk1
I think that was the point…
@Lesovikk1 Thanks for picking up on the allusion. Sometimes I have to stop everything and turn that song up. “Run an’ tell dat, home boy!”
sony hhave all right to do this to Geohot in there terms when you sgn up or use psn it says that “anything done in the ps online can be used against you” and when you buy the ps3 it also says that “when you buy this item it is owned by you but any item or game or hardware inside is not owned by you” so sony have all the right to do this because it is legaly stealing from the sony ps3 so they have all the right to take him to court
@gtw1212….It probably wouldnt matter. If you download child porn but never look at it, your still in possession of it and that is illegal. Or in possession of weed but dont smoke it. Everyone they bust on COPS that have weed in their pockets always say they dont smoke, they were just holding it for a friend :-P
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