After having the PlayStation 3 opened up to hacks, custom firmware and software piracy, Sony is firing back—legally—at the groups responsible for cracking the console wide open.
According to documents featured on the web sites of hacker George “geohot” Hotz and hacking group fail0verflow, Sony Computer Entertainment America is seeking a temporary restraining order against all involved in circumventing the PlayStation 3’s “technological protection measures.” The motion for that restraining order seeks to yank those circumvention devices offline—which seems to have been effective, at least on Hotz’s and fail0verflow’s now stripped bare web sites—and restrict the accused hackers of accessing the PS3.
The motion for the restraining order against the defendants argues that Hotz’s rootkey release and other circumvention devices violate the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, knowingly opening up the PS3 to piracy.
Hotz is accused of gaining “financial benefit through his unlawful conduct” via his PayPal account. The motion names group fail0verflow as “Bushing,” Hector Cantero, Sven Peter and “Segher,” as well as numerous John Does.
The motion is also seeking impoundment of “computers, hard drives, CD-ROMs, DVDs, USB sticks and other media” that contain circumvention devices.
You can read the documents in PDF format below.
- Motion for Temporary Restraining Order [PDF]
- Proposed Order [PDF]
Sony Computer Entertainment America reps confirmed the filing of the temporary restraining order, but said the company does not comment on litigation.
(Thanks to everyone who sent this in!)
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