Sony Threatens Permabans for PlayStation 3 Hackers

[Timothy Chang]

Sony Threatens Permabans for PlayStation 3 Hackers

Sony declares that any PS3 security circumvention "invalidates the consumer's right to access that system".

Not too long ago, a hacking group publicly released an "LV0 decryption key" [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/120288-Hackers-Release-PlayStation-3-LV0-Decryption-Keys]. This gave enterprising hackers a means of easily decrypting changes in the PSN security code, and the potential to circumvent the security on any upcoming firmware updates. Sony are well aware that custom firmware on the platform leads to software piracy, and it has published a consumer alert stating that anyone found running unauthorized software on the console will be issued a permanent ban.

In the statement, Sony reminds consumers that using such software violates the license agreement terms for using the PlayStation 3's system software and the terms of service for using the PlayStation Network. "Violation of the System Software License Agreement for the PlayStation 3 system invalidates the consumer's right to access that system. Consumers running unauthorized or pirated software may have their access to the PlayStation Network and access to Sony Entertainment Network services through PlayStation 3 system terminated permanently.

"To avoid permanent termination, consumers must immediately cease using and delete all unauthorized or pirated software from their PlayStation 3 systems," the statement warns. It concludes by stating that the permanent bans are "to help provide a safe, fair, online environment."

Judging from the last statement, it sounds like users still have a chance to remove any custom firmware from their systems before Sony starts combing through the ranks to catch anyone optimistic enough to connect a hacked console to the PlayStation Network.

Source: Eurogamer [http://us.playstation.com/news/consumeralerts/]

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[IronMit]

I think a max payne 3 method might be effective.
caught once....then you are permanently in a cheat pool. have fun!

But then why should PS pay to operate that...

 

[TheSYLOH]

So let me get this straight... You didn't buy one piece of software.
So Sony removes all incentive to buy software.

Wouldn't this result in that person never buying software again?

 

[Quellist]

I'm not going to defend people who pirate but it still seems like a wrong thing to do to Brick a system that someone has bought and paid for. What you are calling a permaban i am reading as disabling the PS3 entirely, so forgive me if i got that bit wrong. A permaban from live/online/whatever i am quite behind, i mean why bother allowing pirates to play with the shinies, taking away something someone has paid for though...i cant get behind that

 

[bkd69]

This isn't news. Sony has already stated that once the warranty expires, consumers have no right to complain if they remove features from their products.

 

[Deshin]

So no access to buying digital games or dlc and can't play online. But don't the hackers already just download all their games and dlc for free and play online with their friends by circumventing the need to use sony's official servers? I can't see this as being THAT much of a deterrant...

 

[Sylveria]

Sony talking about consumer rights... I can't lawl hard enough at that.

 

[Zombie_Moogle]

Remember those people who bought a PS3 for the Linux support? or for backward compatibility?

Sony & a lot of other companies have it in their heads that they still own the thing they just sold you

 

[Scars Unseen]

*shrug* Seems fair. You can do it their way OR your way, but not both. I guess you could just buy a second PS3...

 

[Something Amyss]

So let me get this straight... You didn't buy one piece of software.
So Sony removes all incentive to buy software.

Wouldn't this result in that person never buying software again?

You would think so, but it doesn't seem to work out that way in their heads.

Remember those people who bought a PS3 for the Linux support? or for backward compatibility?

Sony & a lot of other companies have it in their heads that they still own the thing they just sold you

Unfortunately, they've got legal support (in the US), so they're going to keep on with it.

 

[Baresark]

I think we all saw this coming. Though, they are using the term permaban, but talking like they will disable the system somehow. I don't think that word means what they think it means. Regardless, when push comes to shove, we all knew Sony would stamp it's collective feet like a little child. As always, the problem isn't preventing piracy, it's the the part where people who aren't guilty of it will get hit. It happened with XBox Live, and it happens with things like WoW all the time.

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

So let me get this straight... You didn't buy one piece of software.
So Sony removes all incentive to buy software.

Wouldn't this result in that person never buying software again?

Heck, it's even worse than that. The big thing this allows is homebrew -- piracy has been possible on the PS3 for quite a while now. So it's not even "you didn't buy that piece of software, so we're gonna ban you now." It's "you used this piece of free community made software, so we're gonna act like a two year old and take our ball home because we don't like the competition."

 

[AzrealMaximillion]

Remember those people who bought a PS3 for the Linux support? or for backward compatibility?

Yeah, but they're not the majority. Most people bought their PS3 to play new games. The "buying a PS3 for Linux" argument died years ago when Sony took out Linux from the PS3. It's not like they duped anyone into buying a PS3 after that. Same can be said for backwards compatibility. They were nice features to have but no primary to the PS3.

Sony & a lot of other companies have it in their heads that they still own the thing they just sold you

Sony owns the software. They didn't sell that to you. The sold you the hardware.

Anyways the vast majority of people using the decryption codes are surely NOT using them to get back their Linux support or backwards compatibility so those are not even an issue that can be argued.

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

Remember those people who bought a PS3 for the Linux support? or for backward compatibility?

Yeah, but they're not the majority. Most people bought their PS3 to play new games. The "buying a PS3 for Linux" argument died years ago when Sony took out Linux from the PS3. It's not like they duped anyone into buying a PS3 after that. Same can be said for backwards compatibility. They were nice features to have but no primary to the PS3.

Sony & a lot of other companies have it in their heads that they still own the thing they just sold you

Sony owns the software. They didn't sell that to you. The sold you the hardware.

Anyways the vast majority of people using the decryption codes are surely NOT using them to get back their Linux support or backwards compatibility so those are not even an issue that can be argued.

That's a lie and they know it. You're part of the problem for believing it. In no other product (and yes, it's a product, not a service) would this fly. Software companies get away with it because judges are mostly old men for whom a computer is that big thing that takes up an entire room.

 

[AzrealMaximillion]

Remember those people who bought a PS3 for the Linux support? or for backward compatibility?

Yeah, but they're not the majority. Most people bought their PS3 to play new games. The "buying a PS3 for Linux" argument died years ago when Sony took out Linux from the PS3. It's not like they duped anyone into buying a PS3 after that. Same can be said for backwards compatibility. They were nice features to have but no primary to the PS3.

Sony & a lot of other companies have it in their heads that they still own the thing they just sold you

Sony owns the software. They didn't sell that to you. The sold you the hardware.

Anyways the vast majority of people using the decryption codes are surely NOT using them to get back their Linux support or backwards compatibility so those are not even an issue that can be argued.

That's a lie and they know it. You're part of the problem for believing it. In no other product (and yes, it's a product, not a service) would this fly. Software companies get away with it because judges are mostly old men for whom a computer is that big thing that takes up an entire room.

So tell me, when you buy a copy of a Windows OS, do you own the Windows OS? Or do you own a license to use the OS? Same rules apply.

 

[Epona]

Remember those people who bought a PS3 for the Linux support? or for backward compatibility?

Yeah, but they're not the majority. Most people bought their PS3 to play new games. The "buying a PS3 for Linux" argument died years ago when Sony took out Linux from the PS3. It's not like they duped anyone into buying a PS3 after that. Same can be said for backwards compatibility. They were nice features to have but no primary to the PS3.

Sony & a lot of other companies have it in their heads that they still own the thing they just sold you

Sony owns the software. They didn't sell that to you. The sold you the hardware.

Anyways the vast majority of people using the decryption codes are surely NOT using them to get back their Linux support or backwards compatibility so those are not even an issue that can be argued.

That's a lie and they know it. You're part of the problem for believing it. In no other product (and yes, it's a product, not a service) would this fly. Software companies get away with it because judges are mostly old men for whom a computer is that big thing that takes up an entire room.

So tell me, when you buy a copy of a Windows OS, do you own the Windows OS? Or do you own a license to use the OS? Same rules apply.

You own a copy of Windows.

A better example would be, when you buy a microwave, do you own the entire microwave or just the hardware parts? I think most people would agree that you own the entire microwave. Only in the game industry does this "you don't own the software inside" BS fly.

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

Remember those people who bought a PS3 for the Linux support? or for backward compatibility?

Yeah, but they're not the majority. Most people bought their PS3 to play new games. The "buying a PS3 for Linux" argument died years ago when Sony took out Linux from the PS3. It's not like they duped anyone into buying a PS3 after that. Same can be said for backwards compatibility. They were nice features to have but no primary to the PS3.

Sony & a lot of other companies have it in their heads that they still own the thing they just sold you

Sony owns the software. They didn't sell that to you. The sold you the hardware.

Anyways the vast majority of people using the decryption codes are surely NOT using them to get back their Linux support or backwards compatibility so those are not even an issue that can be argued.

That's a lie and they know it. You're part of the problem for believing it. In no other product (and yes, it's a product, not a service) would this fly. Software companies get away with it because judges are mostly old men for whom a computer is that big thing that takes up an entire room.

So tell me, when you buy a copy of a Windows OS, do you own the Windows OS? Or do you own a license to use the OS? Same rules apply.

You own a /copy/ of Windows OS. That's why the word "copy" is a part of "copyright" -- literally the right to make copies. It's no different than books. If you buy a book, you own that copy of the book. What you don't own is the right to make further copies of it. Software is in the same class of copyrightable products. The software companies are just peddling this licensing crap to try to get around some basic consumer rights, like the right of first sale, that are supposed to protect us from greedy corporations.