Geohot Hints at Plans After Sony Settlement

[Greg Tito]

Geohot Hints at Plans After Sony Settlement

George Hotz gives a little more detail on his post-settlement plans and what he's going to do with th money he raised to fight Sony.

First off, he never plans to buy another Sony product again. A consumer can only vote with his wallet, after all, and George Hotz stated this week his intention to boycott Sony in addition to the Geohot Got Sued [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/109150-GeoHot-and-Sony-Settle-PS3-Jailbreak-Case].

"As of 4/11/11, I am joining the Sony boycott. I will never purchase another Sony product," Hotz wrote yesterday [http://geohotgotsued.blogspot.com/2011/04/joining-sony-boycott.html]. "I encourage you to do the same. And if you bought something Sony recently, return it."

A few commenters took the opportunity to blast Hotz for backing down without much of a fight. "A lot of people who donated because they thought you were going to take this as far as you could to further fair use & consumer rights will be disappointed," said Paul [http://geohotgotsued.blogspot.com/2011/04/joining-sony-boycott.html?showComment=1302538258060#c6757605773529795932]. "Why did you settle?"

Another user known as Night Breed [http://www.blogger.com/profile/06526357553804763352] was more direct. "So basically you settled for a job and took people's money giving them a false hope of settling for their rights? What do you plan to do with the money that was donated to you to provide a cushion for the legal battle? I hope you will be paying all those people back since you obviously didn't live up to your word."

Many commenters brought up a previous post from Hotz which stated what his demands would be in a potential settlement. "I want the settlement terms to include OtherOS on all PS3s and an apology on the PlayStation blog for ever removing it," he wrote.

George Hotz responded to the comments with as much clarity as he could. "The terms of the settlement agreement are 'confidential' and the matter requires that they be 'confidential,'" he said repeatedly. "By contract, I cannot discuss the Action or my views regarding the Action.

"I will address the donations in a forthcoming post, and I think people will be happy." He also pledged that he's not making any money with this deal or off of donors' funds. "I promise you none of your money will end up in my pocket."

After many commenters said that Hotz must have been offered a job at Sony, he went off. "Hilarious that anyone would even consider the idea that I would consider working for Sony. I wouldn't work for someone I hated, no matter how much they paid me," he said.

But even though Hotz couldn't say exactly what the implications of the settlement would be, he felt free enough to speculate. "I believe there is a war coming that extends much much further than 'Is jailbreaking fair use?' and Sony."

A commenter by the name of WoW wasn't satisfied with the settlement and used a football analogy to describe Sony and Hotz. "When I pay to watch my favorite team play soccer, I give the club the money and I expect the team to go out there and do their best. What I hate to see is them rolling over and giving up before the final whistle."

"That's one way to look at it," George responded. "Another way is that they are saving their strength for games where the refs aren't biased and that actually have much more importance to the rest of the season."

Hotz promised more information would be forthcoming, but he asked everyone to trust him for now. "It definitely was not a waste, I assure you," he said. "I am fighting your fight, in the best way I know how. You'll just have to trust me."

Source: Geohot got sued [http://geohotgotsued.blogspot.com/2011/04/joining-sony-boycott.html#comments]


Permalink

 

[zombie711]

i never liked this guy. he's smart enough to jail break the ps3 but not smart enough to relise pirates will use it to pirate games?

 

[blue spartan 11]

I've never been on his side, will never be and I seriously don't trust him. I understand the whole "I bought it, I do what I want with it." but goddamnit! If doing something puts other users at risk, it's common sense. Don't do it.

 

[WanderingFool]

Whatever he wants to do with his stuff, fine by me, but if you're smart enough to break into a PS3, I would think common sense dictates that putting it online will cause alot of people to do dastardly things.

Also,

"As of 4/11/11, I am joining the SONY boycott. I will never purchase another SONY product," Hotz wrote yesterday. "I encourage you to do the same. And if you bought something SONY recently, return it."

Yeah... fuck you.

 

[Kajt]

Ugh, this guy just gets more and more annoying each time he is mentioned in the news.

 

[Numachuka]

Pfft. I want the NGP.
Anyway he did something illegal and people are treating him as if he's the victim.

 

[Loonerinoes]

That picture of him never gets old, does it?

 

[SteewpidZombie]

Geohotz is such a puss, he goes and acts all defiant like he's a martyr. This dude didn't accomplish anything aside from wasting time and proving the stupidity of some people (Mainly himself).

 

[KeyMaster45]

i never like this guy. he's smart enough to jail break the ps3 but not smart enough to relise pirates will use it to pirate games?

No, he knew that people would use it for that, but that was never why he jail broke his PS3. He's never once endorsed pirating games yet that seems to be all people focus. Then there's the people who think because he's a hacker that he's of the type that hacks and cheats in games, when he's not.

I call a settlement a victory for George and the rest of us. For one Sony can't bring it's legal banhammer down on him for doing what was already deemed legal for the iPhone.(let's face it the deck was stacked in Sony's favor no matter how right he was) Second, Sony can't set the legal precedent that they still own your console after you've bought it.

In this case everybody wins; Sony gets to satisfy it's rage over being shown up by a college kid and George walks away with only the legal requirement that he not distribute the jailbrake code anymore; which matters little since it's already spread through the internet. Something Sony could have easily accomplished in the beginning with a simple C&D; would have saved them alot of bad PR.

 

[CM156_v1legacy]

That picture of him never gets old, does it?

Better than this one

Spoiler

He looks stoned out of his mind

OT: The last Sony product I got was a PS2, many, many years ago. Something tells me I can't return it.

 

[manythings]

Geohotz is such a puss, he goes and acts all defiant like he's a martyr. This dude didn't accomplish anything aside from wasting time and proving the stupidity of some people (Mainly himself).

God, I miss Doraleus. I hope they finish their other project soon.

OT: He was just wanking himself off in public... I have this sickening feeling someone has had a great idea for a reality TV show starring that tool.

 

[erbkaiser]

Told you guys he was a major douche.

If you actually sent him money -- hope it was a valuable lesson for you.

Hotz is just a f-ing black hat cracker who thought he could screw a major corporation over without repercussions (releasing the PS3 root keys), and the sheeple (b-tards, anonymous scriptkiddies, and general nitwits) bought his "wah wah evil company wanna beat me" spiel en masse.

 

[JDKJ]

"I will address the donations in a forthcoming post, and I think people will be happy." -- George Hotz

What's there to address in a forthcoming post? He said he'd give any surplus to the EFF. What needs to be forthcoming is his check made payable to the EFF. Ain't no need for further gum-slappin'.

George Hotz. Super-hacker and super-scam artist.

 

[SteewpidZombie]

Geohotz is such a puss, he goes and acts all defiant like he's a martyr. This dude didn't accomplish anything aside from wasting time and proving the stupidity of some people (Mainly himself).

God, I miss Doraleus. I hope they finish their other project soon.

OT: He was just wanking himself off in public... I have this sickening feeling someone has had a great idea for a reality TV show starring that tool.

From how long the creators have been away from Doraleus and how they've still done some youtube stuff, I'm assuming it won't be much longer.

OT: It would be as stupid as Jersey Shore. It's almost mandatory that you must be retarded to get a TV show.*Facepalm* It just goes to show how dumb and easily entertained people are becoming.

 

[JDKJ]

Kinda changed your tune there, huh, Greg? You don't sound half as supportive of Georgie Boy now as you used to be. Whatever happened to "I believe that Geohot has a strong case . . . o yeah, go Geohot!"

Don't feel bad. You weren't the only one to fall for the bullshit. Plenty other people bought it hook, line, and sinker, too. I just hope you didn't actually give that schmuck any of your money.

 

[mjc0961]

i never liked this guy. he's smart enough to jail break the ps3 but not smart enough to relise pirates will use it to pirate games?

It's not his problem if people will use it to pirate games. When are people going to get this? If people take his work and then add to it a hell of a lot of their own work so that they can pirate games, then those people are the ones who should be getting sued. Geez, it's like you guys think Microsoft and Apple should get sued as well because you can take Windows or Mac OS and with a few other pieces of software that MS and Apple have nothing to do with and use it to pirate games. No, that's nonsense, and so is saying GeoHot should be responsible for other people using stuff he didn't make to pirate games.

First off, he never plans to buy another Sony product again.

Yeah, between this and Jack Tretton saying that I have no self respect, I was considering the same thing. At the very least, used PS3 games are about to become my friend.

No, he knew that people would use it for that, but that was never why he jail broke his PS3. He's never once endorsed pirating games yet that seems to be all people focus. Then there's the people who think because he's a hacker that he's of the type that hacks and cheats in games, when he's not.

You speak in facts instead of random "blame the hacker" bullshit that makes no sense. This is for you:

Spoiler

 

[gphjr14]

i never liked this guy. he's smart enough to jail break the ps3 but not smart enough to relise pirates will use it to pirate games?

It's not his problem if people will use it to pirate games. When are people going to get this? If people take his work and then add to it a hell of a lot of their own work so that they can pirate games, then those people are the ones who should be getting sued. Geez, it's like you guys think Microsoft and Apple should get sued as well because you can take Windows or Mac OS and with a few other pieces of software that MS and Apple have nothing to do with and use it to pirate games. No, that's nonsense, and so is saying GeoHot should be responsible for other people using stuff he didn't make to pirate games.

First off, he never plans to buy another Sony product again.

Yeah, between this and Jack Tretton saying that I have no self respect, I was considering the same thing. At the very least, used PS3 games are about to become my friend.

No, he knew that people would use it for that, but that was never why he jail broke his PS3. He's never once endorsed pirating games yet that seems to be all people focus. Then there's the people who think because he's a hacker that he's of the type that hacks and cheats in games, when he's not.

You speak in facts instead of random "blame the hacker" bullshit that makes no sense. This is for you:

Spoiler

So pretty much if you do something you know will be used illegally but that wasn't your your intention, that makes it OK. Too bad the law doesn't feel that way. Just ask Limewire.

Also he should just donate the money for his legal defense to a real charity since that where it should've gone in the first place. Not to him so he'd be able to go on a vacation that he probably wouldn't have been able to otherwise.

 

[Something Amyss]

i never like this guy. he's smart enough to jail break the ps3 but not smart enough to relise pirates will use it to pirate games?

No, he knew that people would use it for that, but that was never why he jail broke his PS3. He's never once endorsed pirating games yet that seems to be all people focus. Then there's the people who think because he's a hacker that he's of the type that hacks and cheats in games, when he's not.

I call a settlement a victory for George and the rest of us. For one Sony can't bring it's legal banhammer down on him for doing what was already deemed legal for the iPhone.(let's face it the deck was stacked in Sony's favor no matter how right he was) Second, Sony can't set the legal precedent that they still own your console after you've bought it.

In this case everybody wins; Sony gets to satisfy it's rage over being shown up by a college kid and George walks away with only the legal requirement that he not distribute the jailbrake code anymore; which matters little since it's already spread through the internet. Something Sony could have easily accomplished in the beginning with a simple C&D; would have saved them alot of bad PR.

Except the next guy will still get sued.

And now, even if they do want to fight, who will want to support the guy after what GeoHot did?

Sony can still bully others, whereas a ruling in GeoHot's favour would have likely set precedent for us to actually have some level of consumer protection from such suits.

So nothing's changed, except a bunch of people who donated money won't see it used for its express purpose and people are less likely to rally behind someone else. How is this a win for anyone but Sony and their litigious attitude?

 

[JDKJ]

i never like this guy. he's smart enough to jail break the ps3 but not smart enough to relise pirates will use it to pirate games?

No, he knew that people would use it for that, but that was never why he jail broke his PS3. He's never once endorsed pirating games yet that seems to be all people focus. Then there's the people who think because he's a hacker that he's of the type that hacks and cheats in games, when he's not.

I call a settlement a victory for George and the rest of us. For one Sony can't bring it's legal banhammer down on him for doing what was already deemed legal for the iPhone.(let's face it the deck was stacked in Sony's favor no matter how right he was) Second, Sony can't set the legal precedent that they still own your console after you've bought it.

In this case everybody wins; Sony gets to satisfy it's rage over being shown up by a college kid and George walks away with only the legal requirement that he not distribute the jailbrake code anymore; which matters little since it's already spread through the internet. Something Sony could have easily accomplished in the beginning with a simple C&D; would have saved them alot of bad PR.

"I call a settlement a victory for George . . . ."

Outta curiosity, would you call the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki a victory for the Japanese?