UPDATE: PS3 Hacker GeoHot Claims He's on Vacation

[Nurb]

>If something can be used negatively it needs to be illegal

Knowing how a toaster works shouldn't be illegal.

Knowing how to and personally modifying your own toaster shouldn't be illegal.

Knowing how to remotely make someone else's toaster catch on fire and stop working should be.

>Knowing something that can be used negatively should be illegal

Knowing and being willing to create malicious programs that cause damage to innocent parties should be illegal.

I fear for the future of technology and the country

If we follow your rules, so do I.

>implying I wasn't summerizing his post in two statements
>implying I'm not on your side

LRN2GREENTEXT

 

[Silent Biohazard Solid]

In spite of everything, he's still a douche. They should put him away for trying to sabotage the PS3. Regardless of what people think of Sony, the simple fact is that if people start pirating the PS3, it will lose 3rd party support, and then the PS3 owners suffer. So unless you're an elitist Xbox360 fanboy who's still suck in 2008 when console wars were a hot issue, then I don't see why anyone would side with Geohot.

 

[MorphingDragon]

Knowledge of how to exploit something in a malicious way should be.

So being a scientist should be illegal?

 

[MorphingDragon]

In spite of everything, he's still a douche. They should put him away for trying to sabotage the PS3. Regardless of what people think of Sony, the simple fact is that if people start pirating the PS3, it will lose 3rd party support, and then the PS3 owners suffer. So unless you're an elitist Xbox360 fanboy who's still suck in 2008 when console wars were a hot issue, then I don't see why anyone would side with Geohot.

Because of the potential that this case holds. This is a chance for game companies to get a slap to the face by the legal system if their policies are overbearing. If sony wins, nothing will change.

 

[Kagim]

Knowledge of how to exploit something in a malicious way should be.

So being a scientist should be illegal?

No, but releasing the chemical compound on how to mix anthrax in your basement and how to get it past security on the internet should be.

 

[Silent Biohazard Solid]

Because of the potential that this case holds. This is a chance for game companies to get a slap to the face by the legal system.

That sounds malicious. What exactly would that accomplish?

 

[MorphingDragon]

Because of the potential that this case holds. This is a chance for game companies to get a slap to the face by the legal system.

That sounds malicious. What exactly would that accomplish?

It might get the game companies to lay off their overbearing policies. Its not meant to be malicious, companies will always try to push the legal envelope.

Knowledge of how to exploit something in a malicious way should be.

So being a scientist should be illegal?

No, but releasing the chemical compound on how to mix anthrax in your basement and how to get it past security on the internet should be.

How to mix anthrax? Anthrax is a disease from Bacteria, not a chemical.

Seriously though:
A sealed petri dish in a plastic vacuum tube would be more than enough to get it through even the most secure airports. You don't need the internet to find that out. If you need it to be discreet and blend in to the public, a sealed dish with warm water inside a vacuum flask.

 

[JWAN]

And guess whose money he used to flee?

Thats why you dont give out money on the internet children.

I thought the Escapist would support the rights of gamers.
Yeah he fled, but that's not the point. Sony is still in the wrong.

"Sony has proof that Hotz created a PlayStation Network account and therefore agreed to the PSN User Agreement"
So what? The PSN UA is BS!

Really? Give it up man. He's tampered with evidence and fled the country? What will it take to convince people like you that this guy is a class A criminal? He obviously used the donation money to buy a place in S. America. And he tampered with evidence to you can't even say the Sony didn anything wrong now based on what they have.

Actually, I think he closed the donations after he got the $10,000 needed to fight against Sony. He probably had some money with him set for spring break before this debacle started.

10K can get you awfully far in South America. You could actually buy a house with that money. (in Mexico the exchange rate is $1 USD to 12 Pesos)

No matter what he says I cannot believe him. Who would be stupid enough to leave the country on vacation whilst being summoned to court? Either the guy ran, or he has no concept of the legal system.

 

[Kagim]

Because of the potential that this case holds. This is a chance for game companies to get a slap to the face by the legal system.

That sounds malicious. What exactly would that accomplish?

It might get the game companies to lay off their overbearing policies.

Or it might do the opposite in this ever increasing pissing match.

Why is it that both sides of this circus feels the need to try and slap each other with their dicks.

Is the idea of working with each other in what is essentially a symbiotic relationship that far fetched. No one has ever seemed to try it. It's nothing but a long string of both sides trying to piss on one another.

Both sides do something wrong, then both sides blame the other one for 'making them' do the wrong thing.

Christ, it's like watching a two little kids playing with blocks.

The first kid is trying to force a round block into a square hole and the other is trying to force a square block into a round hole. Both sides blame the other one for it not working.

Both sides refuse to take a first step towards helping the other, refusing to give up there block.

Both sides end up changing nothing, only pissing off the kid with the triangle block waiting patiently behind them.

The consumer, corporation relationship is symbiotic. And both sides seem intent on trying to be the superior one. Both sides end up fucking over the guys in the middle in the process.

A sealed petri dish in a plastic vacuum tube would be more than enough to get it through even the most secure airports. You don't need the internet to find that out. If you need it to be discreet and blend in to the public, a sealed dish with warm water inside a vacuum flask.

Yes, in a time where your belongings are thoroughly examined, all liquids must be under a certain amount and displayed, and your x-rayd to the point of appearing naked, sneaking a petri dish in a vacuum sealed container through an airport would be a snap....

 

[Silent Biohazard Solid]

It might get the game companies to lay off their overbearing policies. Its not meant to be malicious, companies will always try to push the legal envelope.

Well, the whole time I owned a PS3, I've had absolutely no issues with any policies any given company might invoke. So I have no idea what you're referring to.

 

[Defense]

And guess whose money he used to flee?

Thats why you dont give out money on the internet children.

I thought the Escapist would support the rights of gamers.
Yeah he fled, but that's not the point. Sony is still in the wrong.

"Sony has proof that Hotz created a PlayStation Network account and therefore agreed to the PSN User Agreement"
So what? The PSN UA is BS!

Really? Give it up man. He's tampered with evidence and fled the country? What will it take to convince people like you that this guy is a class A criminal? He obviously used the donation money to buy a place in S. America. And he tampered with evidence to you can't even say the Sony didn anything wrong now based on what they have.

Actually, I think he closed the donations after he got the $10,000 needed to fight against Sony. He probably had some money with him set for spring break before this debacle started.

10K can get you awfully far in South America. You could actually buy a house with that money.

No matter what he says I cannot believe him. Who would be stupid enough to leave the country on vacation whilst being summoned to court? Either the guy ran, or he has no concept of the legal system.

It's a civil case, not a criminal case, and I doubt that GeoHot would stay hidden for that long considering how big Sony is. He seems like a douche, but he doesn't seem like the kind of person who would betray the people supporting him by using his legal money to haul ass to South America.

 

[MorphingDragon]

It might get the game companies to lay off their overbearing policies. Its not meant to be malicious, companies will always try to push the legal envelope.

Well, the whole time I owned a PS3, I've had absolutely no issues with any policies any given company might invoke. So I have no idea what you're referring to.

I'm not being specific to the PS3 or Sony.

Because of the potential that this case holds. This is a chance for game companies to get a slap to the face by the legal system.

That sounds malicious. What exactly would that accomplish?

It might get the game companies to lay off their overbearing policies.

Or it might do the opposite in this ever increasing pissing match.

Why is it that both sides of this circus feels the need to try and slap each other with their dicks.

Is the idea of working with each other in what is essentially a symbiotic relationship that far fetched. No one has ever seemed to try it. It's nothing but a long string of both sides trying to piss on one another.

Both sides do something wrong, then both sides blame the other one for 'making them' do the wrong thing.

Christ, it's like watching a two little kids playing with blocks.

The first kid is trying to force a round block into a square hole and the other is trying to force a square block into a round hole. Both sides blame the other one for it not working.

Both sides refuse to take a first step towards helping the other, refusing to give up there block.

Both sides end up changing nothing, only pissing off the kid with the triangle block waiting patiently behind them.

The consumer, corporation relationship is symbiotic. And both sides seem intent on trying to be the superior one. Both sides end up fucking over the guys in the middle in the process.

If the courts find Sony's actions to be legal, this ever pissing match will be finished. GeoHotZZZZZZZZZZZEEEEEEEEEEE *foamy mouth* is screwed if he loses either way by running or in the courts. If GeoHotZ win, then the policies in question wont be enforceable.

 

[JWAN]

And guess whose money he used to flee?

Thats why you dont give out money on the internet children.

I thought the Escapist would support the rights of gamers.
Yeah he fled, but that's not the point. Sony is still in the wrong.

"Sony has proof that Hotz created a PlayStation Network account and therefore agreed to the PSN User Agreement"
So what? The PSN UA is BS!

Really? Give it up man. He's tampered with evidence and fled the country? What will it take to convince people like you that this guy is a class A criminal? He obviously used the donation money to buy a place in S. America. And he tampered with evidence to you can't even say the Sony didn anything wrong now based on what they have.

Actually, I think he closed the donations after he got the $10,000 needed to fight against Sony. He probably had some money with him set for spring break before this debacle started.

10K can get you awfully far in South America. You could actually buy a house with that money.

No matter what he says I cannot believe him. Who would be stupid enough to leave the country on vacation whilst being summoned to court? Either the guy ran, or he has no concept of the legal system.

It's a civil case, not a criminal case, and I doubt that GeoHot would stay hidden for that long considering how big Sony is. He seems like a douche, but he doesn't seem like the kind of person who would betray the people supporting him by using his legal money to haul ass to South America.

Ok I was unaware it was a civil case.
Let it rest at I have trust issues with people on the internet

 

[Silent Biohazard Solid]

I'm not being specific to the PS3 or Sony.

But this whole case has to do with hacking the PS3. My point is, making piracy more accessible on the PS3, won't accomplish anything good for the gaming industry. Maybe on PC, to make companies lay off the ridiculous DRM. And even then, the DRM was implemented because of rampant piracy in the first place.
The only difference is, as far as I know, 90% of the time, the people who crack these consoles or games, don't end up going, "Hey, everyone. It was I who did it!" So when one such person DOES surface, I see nothing wrong with taking their ass to court.

 

[MorphingDragon]

I'm not being specific to the PS3 or Sony.

But this whole case has to do with hacking the PS3. My point is, making piracy more accessible on the PS3, won't accomplish anything good for the gaming industry. Maybe on PC, to make companies lay off the ridiculous DRM. And even then, the DRM was implemented because of rampant piracy in the first place.
The only difference is, as far as I know, 90% of the time, the people who crack these consoles or games, don't end up going, "Hey, everyone. It was I who did it!" So when one such person DOES surface, I see nothing wrong with taking their ass to court.

I'm not disagreeing about the potential for the increase in piracy. I just see this as an opportunity as a way to make game companies more draconic policies made void by the legal system. Piracy on the PS3 is inevitable, which is why I see this as an overreaction. It just happened to be GeoHotz to start it. It could've been some obscure group in China. Though he is an idiot for using a variation on his name and making himself public.

I'm all for homebrew though, Homebrew was the reason why the PS2's hardware went as far as it could. The developers could see what the architecture was really like and optimize it according. The PS2 linux pack was considered a must for developers learning to code for the PS2.

 

[Silent Biohazard Solid]

I'm not disagreeing about the Pirating. I just see this as an opportunity as a way to make game companies more draconic policies made void by the legal system.

I still don't see how this particular case would accomplish that.

 

[MorphingDragon]

I'm not disagreeing about the Pirating. I just see this as an opportunity as a way to make game companies more draconic policies made void by the legal system.

I still don't see how this particular case would accomplish that.

As far as piracy is concerned in this case, its all about the potential.

Sony is trying as hard as possible to use their agreements as a reason to get GeoHotz fined. Its an example of the overreach that the game companies have as its not explicitly illegal what he was doing. If the courts say that GeoHotz hacking on the PS3 was legal, then it makes the "You only hire from us" mentality in the wrong, for example. If they fine him for releasing the Keys though, I have no issue. I would hate for my magic numbers to be public also.

 

[Mister Shield]

Well... let us not forget that in all of these struggles...

Lawyers are getting paid.

Companies still make money.

Consumers buy things and do what they want with them, no matter what their intended purposes were for.

People have their points, opinions, and issues.

And the worst point about this entire debacle? From now on, people that do release codes, roots, blueprints, or whatever- Will simply find a way to stay anonymous and still put it out there.

Then what companies? Then what consumers?

 

[Danpascooch]

>If something can be used negatively it needs to be illegal

Knowing how a toaster works shouldn't be illegal.

Knowing how to and personally modifying your own toaster shouldn't be illegal.

Knowing how to remotely make someone else's toaster catch on fire and stop working should be.

>Knowing something that can be used negatively should be illegal

Knowing and being willing to create malicious programs that cause damage to innocent parties should be illegal.

I fear for the future of technology and the country

If we follow your rules, so do I.

Knowing and being willing to create malicious programs? That's not Geohotz, he's just opening it up for OTHER people who could potentially make illegal programs.

His crime is supposedly "Knowing something that might allow someone else to do something illegal" That is so fucking far removed from the illegal act itself it's outrageous, might as well arrest murderer's mothers for birthing a murderer, after all, it couldn't have happened without the mother!

 

[Silent Biohazard Solid]

As far as piracy is concerned in this case, its all about the potential.

Sony is trying as hard as possible to use their agreements as a reason to get GeoHotz fined. Its an example of the overreach that the game companies have as its not explicitly illegal what he was doing.

Well, if you put it that way, then if Sony wins, they will indeed accomplish something. I mean, if it discourages future hackers from cracking consoles (or at least publicly releasing their results) in the future, then it's a good thing.
I can't blame Sony for doing everything in their power to nip this thing in the bud.
I mean, imagine if when the PSP first got cracked, Sony found who did it, took away their assets. Then PSP wouldn't have lost all that 3rd party support.