UPDATE: PS3 Hacker GeoHot Claims He's on Vacation

[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.

 

[Kagim]

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!

I find what he did irresponsible. This seems less like "I just wanted to help people" and more like "I'm going to release a root key i know will cause problems for a big company as a way of waving my dick in their faces"

Also bare in mind i think both groups are in the wrong. Sony did something stupid, i also think GeoHots did something just as stupid.

He knew it would cause problems and release it to the general public. Allowing something he knew would be used maliciously to be handed out. There is a difference between "Lol you gave birth to a murder you should be hanged!" and "You left a ton of loaded fire arms in the middle of a street"

Essentially what your saying is when he released it and was later told people were using it in exploitative ways it totally blew his mind. I don't buy that.

Amusing, however that you bring up punishing the mother. In a time where so many people are calling neglectful and abusive parents to stand some responsibility for raising there children badly you stand that a parent shouldn't be held accountable for there child even if they abused and mistreated him to the point of breaking there minds.

Anything could be used negatively.Walk over her and I can show you what my shoe can do You are just cynical beyond help it seems.

That's not what i mean, however. But I have grown tired of repeating myself.

 

[Littlee300]

Uh, yes, people do break windows down to the bare code, learn how it all works, how to exploit it and share that information on how to do it. What you do with that information makes it harmful or harmless. It's called hacking and creating viruses and both criminals and the government do it for attack and defense.

So that makes it right?

Giving people the ability to cause harm and shrugging your shoulders and saying "Well I didn't tell them to" isn't a defense. It's irresponsible.

First, you have to prove to me that absolutely nobody is going to use the PC for criminal activity before you can use yours the way you want again tomorrow.

Ah yes, because one thing works this way ALL things work this way.

"Officer! That man is walking downtown with a loaded shotgun!"

"has he shot anyone?"

"Well, no"

"THEN WHY SHOULD I ARREST HIM YOU FASCIST! FUCK! SHOULD I GO ARREST EVERYONE WITH GUNS! MAYBE HE JUST WANTS TO WALK AROUND WITH AN ARMED WEAPON IN PUBLIC. GIVING HIS GUN A WALK. WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU HITLER"

Yeah, that doesn't work. Don't be naive.

Mods can and do both of those things. It depends on how you use it, just like the PC can be used for good and bad. You don't keep people from using a device because a minority might do something negative with it.

If it was a mod i wouldn't have said this now would I? A mod isn't a security root key which can be used to fuck over other peoples systems and fuck up online games.

A modded system can just be banned.

This wasn't a mod, it was a security root key that could be used in a very exploitative manner and not so much in safe ways.

What i am trying to get through to you is that if this was nothing more the na mod, or third party firmware or software. Then yeah, Sony would be the bad guys.

This isn't. It's a exploit of there system being released.

Exploiting something and modding it are different things.

Extra Credits already discussed this; Knowledge of how something works is not a crime.

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

-10 Internets for mentioning extra credits though.

>If something can be used negatively it needs to be illegal
>Knowing something that can be used negatively should be illegal


I fear for the future of technology and the country

Anything could be used negatively.Walk over her and I can show you what my shoe can do You are just cynical beyond help it seems.

 

[Nurb]

Uh, yes, people do break windows down to the bare code, learn how it all works, how to exploit it and share that information on how to do it. What you do with that information makes it harmful or harmless. It's called hacking and creating viruses and both criminals and the government do it for attack and defense.

So that makes it right?

Giving people the ability to cause harm and shrugging your shoulders and saying "Well I didn't tell them to" isn't a defense. It's irresponsible.

First, you have to prove to me that absolutely nobody is going to use the PC for criminal activity before you can use yours the way you want again tomorrow.

Ah yes, because one thing works this way ALL things work this way.

"Officer! That man is walking downtown with a loaded shotgun!"

"has he shot anyone?"

"Well, no"

"THEN WHY SHOULD I ARREST HIM YOU FASCIST! FUCK! SHOULD I GO ARREST EVERYONE WITH GUNS! MAYBE HE JUST WANTS TO WALK AROUND WITH AN ARMED WEAPON IN PUBLIC. GIVING HIS GUN A WALK. WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU HITLER"

Yeah, that doesn't work. Don't be naive.

Mods can and do both of those things. It depends on how you use it, just like the PC can be used for good and bad. You don't keep people from using a device because a minority might do something negative with it.

If it was a mod i wouldn't have said this now would I? A mod isn't a security root key which can be used to fuck over other peoples systems and fuck up online games.

A modded system can just be banned.

This wasn't a mod, it was a security root key that could be used in a very exploitative manner and not so much in safe ways.

What i am trying to get through to you is that if this was nothing more the na mod, or third party firmware or software. Then yeah, Sony would be the bad guys.

This isn't. It's a exploit of there system being released.

Exploiting something and modding it are different things.

Extra Credits already discussed this; Knowledge of how something works is not a crime.

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

-10 Internets for mentioning extra credits though.

>If something can be used negatively it needs to be illegal
>Knowing something that can be used negatively should be illegal


I fear for the future of technology and the country

Anything could be used negatively.Walk over her and I can show you what my shoe can do You are just cynical beyond help it seems.

Read the quotes, OK? I'm on your fucking side, I was just summerizing what he said in two points in greentext as an 'inside joke' for some people.

 

[Sarge034]

I just looked at his pic again. Know what I thought I heard him say?

U mad bra?

Know what I thought I saw?

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

Was about to say damn it, but then read the update. Hurrah!

 

[ThrobbingEgo]

And this is why we should source more than just the prosecution's claims.

 

[Firia]

>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.

There is an age gone by where the fear of knowledge- specific knowledge that was believed to be hearsay, lead to a mass incineration of books, documents, and scrolls. Documented knowledge forever lost because it was feared, hated, and a large body deemed it unfit for the people. Since then, we've become a great deal more civilized, and even believe that knowledge is power. No book should be banned or burned.

I fear that you're conjuring up the same dark things that the ancient crusades reacted to. But rather than fear of an illuminated mind, you fear what that mind may do with that knowledge. I should like to remind you that this world is at this moment filled with dangerous minds. Any number of men women, and even children are trained, or at least skilled in firearms. Just through learning how to code software, people have learned how to circumvent protections we've put into place. The good folks at poison control centers the world over know exactly how long a person has to live should they find themselves consuming bleach.

Any knowledge can be made into an illegal application. We can't allow ourselves to be afraid of what any one person might do with a piece of knowledge. We are all made better through learning, and becoming more skilled. Playing the what-if game prays on a moral high ground that tells others that you know better, and circumvents the freedoms they have in place for one another. It is not until a person has done something wrong with the knowledge they have that they should be put out for it, not before.

 

[agnosticOCD]

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?

Oh, that's beautiful. You've just summarized everything. I'd marry you if I was a girl. lol

 

[SpaceMedarotterX]

Yeah no. You don't go on holiday out of the country if you have a legal battle to fight, you vacation IN the country, if you want to leave, you file a request through to the fucking Judge.

No I don't care if you have holiday plans, the court of law isn't the wacky zanny adventures of whatever the defendant wants he has to fucking abide what is ordered of him. You couldn't find anything in california to help you relax? you had to go OUT of the arm of the law to relax?, you don't address 'tampering with evidence' and simply explain you don't intend to let the case ruin your life, WONDERFUL! try telling the Judge that and be threatened to be held in prison if you do something so ridiculously stupid again.

This shit aint Phoenix Wright, and if it was, you aint Manfred Von Karma, you're Frank Sawhit you stupid fuck.

Sorry Fellas, I was neutral in this, I always tried to maintain it but the asshole is lying. This isn't a case of beating Sony it's a case of saving his own hide.

 

[Calderon0311]

Thanks for updating the original news post. I've been following the reveal closely today, and one thing that many people seem to be forgetting is that the Court Trial has yet to start, let alone to be determined where to preside.

As long as Geo is present for the case when it happens (Assuming it ever gets off it's feet), he's safe to do and to go wherever he wants. It should be noted as well that a PSX forum was following the story and has more information as to the new documents today, mostly filling in that Sony's Google-fu is quiet weak. http://psx-scene.com/forums/f6/geohot-flees-south-america-83925/

TL;DR: There's no trial yet, so Geo cannot be reported as "fleeing" from a case.

 

[mooncalf]

An overwhelming number of people in this thread seem ready to burn geohot at the stake for going to south america, but even if he is there for a bad reason ('fleeing'), remember this all came about because Sony SCREWED PEOPLE OVER and then WHINED when people screwed back?

As for paying for his own vacation, south america probably doesn't demand so much cash of a tourist as a legal defense versus SONY will.