Sony and Geohot reach settlement

" @FancySoapsMan said:

" @Hailinel said:

" @psylah said:

" A Permanent Injunction will require George Hotz to refrain from doing something, as ordered by the court.In some tech-related cases, it's not unusual to have an injunction that requires someone to refrain from using devices that use processors (computers).It's a fate worse than death, I'd say. "

So depending on whatever this permanent injunction is related to, it could simply destroy Hotz? "

"Geohot, a.k.a George Hotz has finally found some space to breathe. Both SONY and Hotz have come to an agreement on a settlement, with Hotz accepting a permanent injunction against his development activities on the PS3."

Doesn't sound that bad.

"

Wait, didn't all this start with Hotz' development activites on the PS3?  Didn't this court case serve as a philosophical battleground, rather than a legal one?  Wasn't this all about the nature of ownership?Ah, forget it. "

" @SethPhotopoulos said:

"You want that guy utterly fucked monetarily so you can hack a console for some weird and suspicious reason?"

George had millions in donations.  He promised he'd fight the whole way, Sony got cold-feat and realized Apple tried this last year and they got their asses handed to them.  Microsoft is too smart to take them to court for console hacking, and Nintendo isn't stupid enough to bitch in America...but Sony was the silver lining.  Those dumb-fucks were dumb enough to do this, fucking hell.

So FUCKING CLOSE to have console modding 100% legal in America...so fucking close.

"

"They didn't puss out.  They won. "

" @SethPhotopoulos said:

"They didn't puss out.  They won. "

No...they pussed out.  If they "won", they would've taken it all the way and the Judge would've been like "uh...tried this with Apple, and consumer is right to hack their own product".  Sony backed down and more than likely made a deal with George.  All we need is some new idiot at Nintendo to sue someone when the Wii 2 gets hacked or if Sony tries this again when the NGP gets hacked.  Microsoft isn't stupid enough to sue a dude....they even sent George a free WP7 in the hopes that he hacks it for the community.

George shouldn't have made that deal...he could've made things so much better for hackers and modders everywhere in America.  But man, I can't hate him, after everything he did for the iPhone and iOS and Android stuff, that dude is still a hero.  He made Sony look like a pussy for having them cave in.

"

" @hexx462 said:

" @Ahmad_Metallic said:

" probably for the best.. SONY's dictatorship made me revolted by their policies and im switching to the Xbox next gen "

Yeah stick to the man! Jump ship from one massive corporation to another, that'll show'em! "

Yeah, Microsoft has never done something that can be considered anti-consumer.

Rage against that machine!

"

" @SethPhotopoulos said:

"They didn't puss out.  They won. "

No...they pussed out.  If they "won", they would've taken it all the way and the Judge would've been like "uh...tried this with Apple, and consumer is right to hack their own product".  Sony backed down and more than likely made a deal with George.  All we need is some new idiot at Nintendo to sue someone when the Wii 2 gets hacked or if Sony tries this again when the NGP gets hacked.  Microsoft isn't stupid enough to sue a dude....they even sent George a free WP7 in the hopes that he hacks it for the community.

George shouldn't have made that deal...he could've made things so much better for hackers and modders everywhere in America.  But man, I can't hate him, after everything he did for the iPhone and iOS and Android stuff, that dude is still a hero.  He made Sony look like a pussy for having them cave in.

"

" probably for the best.. SONY's dictatorship made me revolted by their policies and im switching to the Xbox next gen "

"So you're saying that an inevitable scenario in which they lose would be preferable to Sony entering a settlement in which they are clearly the victor?Do you consciously try to be an idiot? "

" @extremeradical said:

" @hexx462 said:

" @Ahmad_Metallic said:

" probably for the best.. SONY's dictatorship made me revolted by their policies and im switching to the Xbox next gen "

Yeah stick to the man! Jump ship from one massive corporation to another, that'll show'em! "

Yeah, Microsoft has never done something that can be considered anti-consumer.

Rage against that machine!

"

I think if these are the kind of things someone is concerned with they probably shouldn't be playing video games in the first place. "

" @Ahmad_Metallic said:

" probably for the best.. SONY's dictatorship made me revolted by their policies and im switching to the Xbox next gen "

You must have the brain of, well, probably an idiot. Xbox is all about closed ass systems. Your fucking stupid if you expect better from xbox. What Sony did was perfectly reasonable. You threaten the security of their system, and yes they will fucking act on it, why? Because if they don't, the 98% of PS3 users who don't hack games, pirate software, etc, will be pissed at the fact that there are people doing those things. If anyone tried this shit with Microsoft, it would be crushed in a fucking instant. It wouldn't happen. If you think you'll find a different way of doing things at Microsofts side, go ahead. The 360 is an awesome platform, so is Xbox Live. But you are just being an ignorant uppity twat if you think Sony was being a "dictator". Either grow the fuck up, or get your ass back to school. Maybe you'll learn a bit of common sense. Have fun finding out about all the awesome shit you can't do on a 360 2. Sony was protecting the infrastructure and the device and the customers they worked YEARS to produce. All you have a guarantee for is the system. Everything else is a SERVICE provided by SONY, and it has always been evolving, removing and adding features and security barriers/ loopholes. They can take it away all they want, especially with it being FREE. They can stop you from modifying the OS all they want, ESPECIALLY if it results in security breaches. Which this shit absolutely would. Your not entitled to this shit, so stop your whining. If this is something big enough in your life to be upset about, your life must be fucking fantastic, or you must be the saddest motherfucker in the world. Either way, your going to be terribly disappointed as this shit continues to be squashed. "

This is around the time someone pulls out the retarded gun crime analogies.

" @hexx462 said:

" @Ahmad_Metallic said:

" probably for the best.. SONY's dictatorship made me revolted by their policies and im switching to the Xbox next gen "

Yeah stick to the man! Jump ship from one massive corporation to another, that'll show'em! "

Yeah, Microsoft has never done something that can be considered anti-consumer.

Rage against that machine!

"

" probably for the best.. SONY's dictatorship made me revolted by their policies and im switching to the Xbox next gen "

It can't be easy to suffer a mental illness that makes you OCD about putting linux on anything in existence, but I still think he should be mitnicked for being stupid.

I doubt that this is over yet.  In a legal sense maybe, but "anonymous," being the fuckers they are, will probably try to mess up something else. 

" I doubt that this is over yet.  In a legal sense maybe, but "anonymous," being the fuckers they are, will probably try to mess up something else.  "

" @GAZERK said:

" I doubt that this is over yet.  In a legal sense maybe, but "anonymous," being the fuckers they are, will probably try to mess up something else.  "

Plus once the NGP is out and people hack it to run pirated games, Sony can't do jack-shit about it.  NGP is a handheld device that is similar to the iPad, iPodtouch, etc.  The DEFCON and other hacking forums are already saying they'll get the NGP hacked week one and Sony won't be able to sue them for it.  

The good thing about the PSP hacks was that George didn't work on it, some Russian and Japanese teams did the hacks...so they'll be back on the NGP to fight back.  

Sony might be able to keep console hacking "grey" by settling, but Apple already fucked it up for all handsets by making it legal to hack them.  

"

" @GAZERK said:

" I doubt that this is over yet.  In a legal sense maybe, but "anonymous," being the fuckers they are, will probably try to mess up something else.  "

Plus once the NGP is out and people hack it to run pirated games, Sony can't do jack-shit about it.  NGP is a handheld device that is similar to the iPad, iPodtouch, etc.  The DEFCON and other hacking forums are already saying they'll get the NGP hacked week one and Sony won't be able to sue them for it.  

The good thing about the PSP hacks was that George didn't work on it, some Russian and Japanese teams did the hacks...so they'll be back on the NGP to fight back.  

Sony might be able to keep console hacking "grey" by settling, but Apple already fucked it up for all handsets by making it legal to hack them.  

"

" probably for the best.. SONY's dictatorship made me revolted by their policies and im switching to the Xbox next gen "

" It legal to hack not to pirate games. "

" @GAZERK said:

" I doubt that this is over yet.  In a legal sense maybe, but "anonymous," being the fuckers they are, will probably try to mess up something else.  "

Plus once the NGP is out and people hack it to run pirated games, Sony can't do jack-shit about it.  NGP is a handheld device that is similar to the iPad, iPodtouch, etc.  The DEFCON and other hacking forums are already saying they'll get the NGP hacked week one and Sony won't be able to sue them for it.  

The good thing about the PSP hacks was that George didn't work on it, some Russian and Japanese teams did the hacks...so they'll be back on the NGP to fight back.  

Sony might be able to keep console hacking "grey" by settling, but Apple already fucked it up for all handsets by making it legal to hack them.  

"

Sony was going to get their asses handed to them if they went through with the case, and the NGP is protected by the consumers.

WiFi counts as a tellophone connection as you can use VoIP.  You can thank Google for making this mainstream due to Google Voice, and I guess Skype too...but I use Google Voice.

http://www.copyright.gov/1201/

(2) Computer programs that enable wireless telephone handsets to execute software applications, where circumvention is accomplished for the sole purpose of enabling interoperability of such applications, when they have been lawfully obtained, with computer programs on the telephone handset.

(3) Computer programs, in the form of firmware or software, that enable used wireless telephone handsets to connect to a wireless telecommunications network, when circumvention is initiated by the owner of the copy of the computer program solely in order to connect to a wireless telecommunications network and access to the network is authorized by the operator of the network.

(4) Video games accessible on personal computers and protected by technological protection measures that control access to lawfully obtained works, when circumvention is accomplished solely for the purpose of good faith testing for, investigating, or correcting security flaws or vulnerabilities, if:

(i)  The information derived from the security testing is used primarily to promote the security of the owner or operator of a computer, computer system, or computer network; and
(ii) The information derived from the security testing is used or maintained in a manner that does not facilitate copyright infringement or a violation of applicable law.

 

SONY SMASH PUNY NERD!

" (2) Computer programs that enable wireless telephone handsets to execute software applications, where circumvention is accomplished for the sole purpose of enabling interoperability of such applications, when they have been lawfully obtained, with computer programs on the telephone handset.

(3) Computer programs, in the form of firmware or software, that enable used wireless telephone handsets to connect to a wireless telecommunications network, when circumvention is initiated by the owner of the copy of the computer program solely in order to connect to a wireless telecommunications network and access to the network is authorized by the operator of the network. "

" @Boom_goes_the_dynamite said:

" Glad that this is all over, its pretty hilarious that this was reached before the whole anonymous stuff happened. "

They'll probably try to take some credit. "

WAIT his internet name is Geo Hotz and his real name is George Hotz. That hilarious.

At least now when he sits alone every night masturbating and crying, he has a better idea of what it means to be abused in a cell by a large man named "Blossom".

good news, now everyone can go back to not caring about everyone involved

" What do you think the chances are of Sony hiring Hotz to work on their security stuff for their future consoles? That's what often happens in these cases, they hire the guy who cracked their security measures to help improve them. "

" SONY SMASH PUNY NERD! "

I never really closely followed this, but purely from my outside perspective, I get the distinct impression that Sony wanted this over quickly, and their legal efforts were alot of bark and no teeth. The fact that Geo got off so relatively easy after drawing the ire of a corporate entity like Sony could pretty easily be considered not only a victory for Geo in the grand scheme of things, but also a pretty clear indication that Sony doesn't really want to go up against serious courtroom opposition on this issue for risk of the outcome.

@KaosAngel

I see this refernce to the Library of Congfress DCMA exemptions come up quite often by people who haven't taken the time to actually read up on the jail-breaking exemptions.

Here's a list of the exemptions granted for jail-breaking your devices. Could you please point out the one that would allow breaking the encryption on the PS3 to play cracked games or add functionality?

- Computer users may now bypass external security devices if they do not longer work and cannot be replaced..

- Phone owners may break access controls on their phones to switch to another wireless carrier.

- It is now allowed to break video game protections to investigate or correct security flaws.

- Allow college professors, film students, filmmakers and producers of non-commercial videos to break copy-protections on DVDs for educational purposes, criticism or commentary.

- Allow blind people to break protections on electronic books so that they can be used with blind-suitable software.    

I don't see anything there that would apply to the GeoHot/PS3 situation, and I'm pretty certain that cracking and releasing the keys would be considered a secutiry violation and not an attempt to fix security.