Sony Seeking Out fail0verflow, PS3 Hackers

In a move to widen their lawsuit against PS3 hacker Geohot, Sony has subpoenaed many websites for user information.

PSX-SCENE revealed Sony has issued a subpoena to procure information about several PS3 hackers.

Included in the subpoena are requests for information about members of fail0verflow the group responsible for releasing a procedure to run unsigned code on the PS3. Several of the hackers Sony is seeking information about, like bushing, Segher, HermesEOL, and Waninkoko, are also known for enabling or creating homebrew for the Wii, though recently their attention has been aimed at PS3 exploits.

Sony recently was successful in issuing a restraining order on George "Geohot" Hotz, preventing him from further hacking of the PS3 during the remainder of the lawsuit. In addition, the courts have required Hotz to turn over all of his computer materials to the prosecution. This subpoena indicates Sony is looking to spread the lawsuit to more PS3 hackers, but whether or not any will be charged is yet to be seen.

#Hackers #Fail0verflow

Our Take

Jason Ross Senior Editor

02/08/2011 at 12:47 AM

In case anyone doesn't pick up what's going on in the story's pic, it's supposed to represent a gavel coming down on team fail0verflow. I feel like a terrible political cartoonists for explaining that. >.>

Anyway, as far as I'm aware, everything used to hack the PS3 involved reverse-engineering the device, which is supposed to be legal. If these guys didn't use any copyrighted code in what was done, that should be that, similar to the cases with iPhone and jailbreaking. A lot of these hackers, as noted in the story, were a part of Team Twiizers or worked on Wii hacking in general without Nintendo pursuing legal action (as far as I'm aware,) so I'd imagine their procedures would be similar. I'm not too happy to hear Sony is going after them, too, but I can only hope the courts decide that the machines we buy are owned by us after purchase, rather than Sony, and thus, we're allowed to run whatever we want, so long as it wasn't stolen.

02/09/2011 at 03:57 AM

Here's an update followed by some funny: Sony's asking for the user information of people who commented on a fail0verflow video on youtube. The funny part? Apparently 'Kevin Butler' retweeted the hex code for unlocking a PS3.

Nick DiMola Director

02/09/2011 at 08:03 AM

Hopefully these guys are acquitted and can return back to normal life soon. If Sony sold them the system, these guys own the property they purchased.

People hacking the machine is inevitable, so it's always better to turn a blind eye to it and let this subculture exist. Nintendo seemed to figure this out and have just tried their best to thwart the hackers with a variety of system updates (to no avail, of course).

Honestly, Sony is to blame for all of this hacking anyway. Does anyone think it's a coincidence that the PS3 started being hacked shortly after people were forced to remove Linux from their machines due to a certain update?

The bottom line is this: only a small percentage of system owners will hack their machines to play stolen games and perform unscrupulous acts. More often than not, they are doing it just because they can and would've never materialized to true sales anyway. Heck, Sony probably sells a few extra systems because of it and in the end I'm sure it all works out to be a wash.

PixlBit