The Other PS3 Hacker Is (Probably) Headed to Jail

[John Funk]

The Other PS3 Hacker Is (Probably) Headed to Jail

German PS3 hacker Alexander "Graf Chokolo" Egorenkov may be on his way to the ol' hoosegow after being unable to pay his legal fees.

Though Sony's most high-profile PS3 hacking case was the legal battle against George "GeoHot" Hotz [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/107349-Sony-Wins-Restraining-Order-Against-Geohot], he wasn't the hardware giant's only target. Sony also targeted hacking group fail0verflow, in particular setting its sights on German hacker Alexander "graf_chokolo."

Egorenkov, like Hotz, was accused of disseminating the keys to the PS3's hardware which enabled users to "jailbreak" their consoles. While proponents of jailbreaking argued that it would allow them to run homebrew software and restore the "OtherOS" functionality on their legally purchased device, Sony and other opponents maintained that the true purpose was illegal software piracy.

Last week, Egorenkov wrote on his blog [http://grafchokolo.com/grafchokolo-fight-sony.html/comment-page-12/#comment-6364] that he was probably headed for jail time after being unable to pay his legal fees. Still, he remained defiant: "But I'm ready to stand up for everything I said and go to jail for that too. It's not important to win, more important is to show them that we are ready to fight, that they cannot scare me off easily. Yeah, I'm ready to go to jail for my believes [sic] and my principles."

Between that most-recent note and an equally defiant rant as did GeoHot [http://www.ps3news.com/PS3-Hacks/Sony-Sues-Graf-Chokolo-for-1-Million-Euros-Hes-Still-PS3-Hacking/].

Speaking of GeoHot, what happened to all that money he donated to the Electronic Frontier Foundation [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/109311-GeoHot-Donates-Leftover-Legal-Funds-to-EFF]? It strikes me that there's another hacker out there who could use all of it now that he's not using it.

(Via DailyTech [http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=21939])

Thanks to Scanniza for the tip!

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[Quiet Stranger]

Good to hear? I guess? I can't wait till they arrest lulzsec or whatever they are called

 

[vivster]

pointless but still better than nothing...

 

[Low Key]

That's some bullshit. I hope he can raise enough money. He doesn't deserve to go to jail for modifying a device he bought.

Good to hear? I guess? I can't wait till they arrest lulzsec or whatever they are called

No it's not. The guy didn't hack the network, he hacked his system to restore OtherOS. That's what fail0verflow is known for.

 

[DrunkWithPower]

I guess if Sony wanted to test their security systems, this is one way to do it. Seems a bit too soon after the last fiasco. *Gets on PSN while he still can*

 

[Baresark]

I don't think he is facing criminal charges for it? Is he? I mean, I thought all that stuff was civil, meaning his credit and paychecks will forever be docked an amount of money a judge decides is fair. But if you are suing someone for money, if they can't pay, they don't go to jail.

That's some bullshit. I hope he can raise enough money. He doesn't deserve to go to jail for modifying a device he bought.

Good to hear? I guess? I can't wait till they arrest lulzsec or whatever they are called

No it's not. The guy didn't hack the network, he hacked his system to restore OtherOS. That's what fail0verflow is known for.

I couldn't agree more. I'm not for hackers and stealing, but I am for people being able to utilize a device they own as they see fit. I think it's funny how the slobbering uneducated masses always cry for blood in these situations, when if they got what they wanted, the masses position is no better than if it never happened.

 

[Pr0]

Is it just me or do some corporate entities never seem to learn their place?

 

[Actual]

Wonderful how Sony doesn't even need to win the court case, they just need to throw so much money at it that a man can't afford to defend himself.

Love how money can buy the law.

This man fixed a broken product, the PS3, which Sony deliberately broke.

It's like if your car manufacturer turned off the stereo in your car because they were worried some people might use it to play pirated music and then sent you to prison for fixing it!

 

[CrystalShadow]

I think I've seen some of his videos related to hacking game consoles...

And if he is who I think he is, you know what? I do actually believe his motivations. (Even if he does acknowledge that enabling piracy is a known inevitable side effect of being able to break the security system.)

But, that aside, I'm not going to say he shouldn't be punished, but I do find it disturbing what this says about the legal system.

"I'm going to jail because I can't pay my legal fees." should never be a factor.

It shows up aspects of the legal system that make the whole thing seem incredibly biased.

It's akin to saying there's one law for the rich, and another for the poor...

And that's pretty disturbing, irrespective of what the person in any given case is being accused of.

 

[Pr0]

All I'm saying is, I don't believe Mercedes-Benz would be taking me to court for modifying the stock Bose stereo system after market. Or re-certifying the engine to European specs after shipment either.

Am I right? I think so.

 

[Ddgafd]

Then why do you feel the need to hack the damn thing when you know you're just going to get in trouble for it?

This man fixed a broken product, the PS3, which Sony deliberately broke.

Because a feature that appealed to a small audience was removed, means that the entire thing is now broken?

 

[ChillShark]

He would love a PS3 jailbreak, huh?

 

[Jabberwock xeno]

Thank god!
I was worried that we had lost all hope after geohotz settled. EVERYONE DONATE TO THIS GUY.

 

[Echo136]

Wonderful how Sony doesn't even need to win the court case, they just need to throw so much money at it that a man can't afford to defend himself.

Love how money can buy the law.

This man fixed a broken product, the PS3, which Sony deliberately broke.

It's like if your car manufacturer turned off the stereo in your car because they were worried some people might use it to play pirated music and then sent you to prison for fixing it!

Thats a stupid example. Stereo's can be easily bought at a radioshack or best buy, and replace the old one LEGALLY. Why does everyone resort to using cars as an example for software piracy.

 

[killamanhunter]

well, I better download as much off PSN store as I can, and get as much Black Ops playtime as I can as well.

Sony I thought you learned your lesson with the internet, don't try and take down guys who have a lot of backing on 4chan.

 

[IamQ]

Good that the hacker is going away, bad that this will probably mean more hacking of Sony.

 

[Shikua]

Wonderful how Sony doesn't even need to win the court case, they just need to throw so much money at it that a man can't afford to defend himself.

Love how money can buy the law.

This man fixed a broken product, the PS3, which Sony deliberately broke.

It's like if your car manufacturer turned off the stereo in your car because they were worried some people might use it to play pirated music and then sent you to prison for fixing it!

Thats a stupid example. Stereo's can be easily bought at a radioshack or best buy, and replace the old one LEGALLY. Why does everyone resort to using cars as an example for software piracy.

Because YOU WOULDN'T DOWNLOAD A CAR!
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