Today, Sony Computer Entertainment released the following statement:
Notice: Unauthorized circumvention devices for the PlayStation 3 system have been recently released by hackers. These devices permit the use of unauthorized or pirated software. Use of such devices or software violates the terms of the “System Software License Agreement for the PlayStation 3 System” and the “Terms of Services and User Agreement” for the PlayStation Network/Qriocity and its Community Code of Conduct provisions. Violation of the System Software Licence Agreement for the PlayStation 3 System invalidates the consumer guarantee for that system. In addition, copying or playing pirated software is a violation of International Copyright Laws. Consumers using circumvention devices or running unauthorized or pirated software will have access to the PlayStation Network and access to Qriocity services through PlayStation 3 system terminated permanently.
To avoid this, consumers must immediately cease use and remove all circumvention devices and delete all unauthorized or pirated software from their PlayStation 3 systems.
What this means to you
Circumvention devices and game piracy damage our industry and can potentially injure the online experience for you, our loyal PlayStation customers, via hacks and cheats.
Many PlayStation.Blog readers have asked how we intend to deal with these incidents that they have been reading about in the gaming press, and this is our initial response.
By identifying PlayStation 3 systems that breach our guidelines and terminating their ability to connect to PlayStation Network, we are protecting our business and preserving the honest gameplay experiences that you expect and deserve.
Rest assured, this message does not apply to the overwhelming majority of our users who enjoy the world of entertainment PlayStation 3 has to offer without breaching the guidelines detailed above, and we urge you to continue doing so without fear.
2011 and beyond is for Sony!
great now you wont allow me to finish my post!
Part 3
Banning all consoles on a CFW is by the way the wrong answer, i assume you are going to be using the information gathered from making people connect via proxy for the ban, surely you should have silently implemented the rootkit method into 3.55 and then scanned each persons hard disk for a backup-manager and banned both the console serial number, psn id and mac address of those found with one installed if you wanted to get rid of most of the hackers (also it may have been worth while logging how often the backup manager was used… ie more than once a day every day for a month is pretty much guaranteed to be a pirate.
@bluehatchback:
Everyone, but it goes beyond just blocking users from logging into the PSN. Sony is alleging that any user who modifies their PS3 is breaking copyright law. Read up more on the situation in more detail here:
eff dot org/deeplinks/2011/01/sony-v-hotz-sony-sends-dangerous-message
On the homebrew side of things, maybe you should implement a similar system to Microsofts Game Studio system, give a cut down version of the PS3 SDK, a small download on the psn to enable the use of code written in the cut-down SDK on only one console for testing then an upload for authorized distribution on the psn network (after you guys authorize it). hell do what MS do and charge $99 (£65) for the testing app and you would make more money that way too!
rant over!
@ Nitroid
Your car argument is inherently flawed. A more apt anecdote would be that you purchase the car and Sony is giving you the gas for free so long as you operate under their terms. So you decide against those terms, they cut off the gas. That’s fine, you’re now free to get gas elsewhere (there are hacked PSN stores and servers now, I’m sure). They’re not ruining your console, its still available for homebrew, otherOS and whatever else you had in mind for it (piracy, likely).
For every homebrew enthusiast there’s 1000 pirates and people looking for “free games” and “cheats”. So while it’s great that you can contextualize and justify your actions, its pretty blind of you to ignore the VAST MAJORITY of gamers who use exploits like this to their advantage. The needs of the few do not outweigh the needs of the many. Funny that you should throw out accusations of empirical, backwards thinking at others, while ignoring your own faulted logic.
(continued)
If you are so interested in coding, ffs there’s PCs for you to emulate on/ fiddle with. And they’re OPEN. Using a PS3, which is sold as a closed system device with limited RAM and a complex processing system seems like an exercise in futility and doesn’t support your straw man argument at all.
I’m torn on this topic. I would imagine I’m older than most on here. While I understand the security and legal issues relevant to piracy and hacking, if I felt companies motivation was pure I may be ok with this stern stance. But, I think it is motivated more by greed and control than anything else. They want to keep all the $$$ for themselves. I remember when you got a good game for a set price. Now it seems that games are half complete for $60 plus with the anticipated DLC to milk a few more bucks from us. EyePet, Little Big Planet, CoD…the list goes on and on.
All Tht matters is ..will it really happen ..they can just buy another ps3 sooo..
This is just getting out of hand. First off I do not have a hacked ps3 for this reason. But, I would like to say something. Sony have you people really not heard about the EFF. They fight for the cause; we should be able to do what we want to some thing we’ve legally bought. I mean, a lot of people that have cfw’s use it for homebrew or being able to back up a game to increase system longevity. Also, note to psn users: not all hacking is bad; on example is just cause 2, this game has countless mods that just add replay value and increase the fun. They don’t hurt anybody else. If only all people that had cfw’s wouldn’t use it to pirate stuff…:(
I agree, go Sony, we trust in you !!!
mfw=]
its a big success in the jail-breaking community
they also figured how to get back online despite being on 3.55
=P
also by reason I meant I love my psn account with 100’s of dollars invested in downloadable stuff.
Meh all i was trying to say is why dont you do a similair thing to MS and their XNA studio/app on xbl for testing then submitting to an ‘indie’ section on their store… that way your still limiting access etc but allowing people to develop homebrew apps.
@Nitroid
Disagree with EFF on this article. If they hacked the machine to just put Linux on it. Removed THEIR software from the system and had a Bare Linux install and then posted a way to do that w/o posting keys. This blog post wouldn’t be here today. That’s not the case. They didn’t do that, instead they wanted to embarrass Sony and make themselves look good. If it was all about Linux, it wouldn’t have gotten this far. They hacked the system and customized SONY software to mimic SONY software. Also posting private keys is violating DMCA and/or copyright infringement. I usually I agree with the EFF, but this is just simply wrong.
YES! Good job Sony! Hopefully now people will be able to play MW2 and CoD4 without issues.
Go get ’em Sony!
As a Gamer and a consumer of your products….I SUPPORT You on your fight against the S#!TBags who circumvent the PS3 security features to Ruin ONLINE gaming by sucking the fun out every clean/competitive match, Hack trophy counts and Commit PIRACY (Digital theft) while cryin’…It’s just for homebrew! For RealZ!
No warning should be given to the vermin who feel entitled to play free games…Swing that BanHammer!
My.02
you offend me sony
I read everyone’s comment…You guys all spray hate on hackers…I think there’s a big difference in pirates and hackers…hackers will only hack the console but not pirate games thus damaging the industry..GeoHot is however ”bad” because he released the key to hack it…I mean, i don’t support pirate at all because i wanna work in the multimedia industry…And I would dislike people that gets something free when I worked my [DELETED] off to make it…Just sayin
[sorry for horrible english, i’m french]
@Christian399
A strawman argument? Really? This isn’t a high school debate class. That kind of petty misdirection doesn’t work on grown-ups, least of all when it isn’t even a valid accusation to begin with.
Anyway.
It’s cute that you want to rewrite my analogy to fit your perspective but if you want to split hairs, the “gas” would be more akin to electricity in this analogy. Feel free to try again but next time replace the broken logic with a well thought argument.
On the subject of your “for every homebrew enthusiast there are 1000 pirates” conjecture, I could call you out and demand some research and hard numbers on the subject, but there wouldn’t be much point as you’ve clearly plucked that figure out of thin air and seem to prefer avoiding a more rational “forest for the trees” viewpoint. Instead, I’ll “contextualize” the issue and reiterate a previous analogy of mine:
Should every owner of a rifle or pistole have their firearms forcefully taken away whenever there’s a drive-by or a school shooting?
Think about this one -real- hard.
get em sony!!!
Ok I guess Nitroid doesn’t understand what a EULA is.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_license_agreement
You don’t own the GameOS on your PS3 you only License it. Sony can add, remove(Like OtherOS) features to the GameOS at anytime, and guess what they can ban you from using the online feature if they think you are in violation of any part of your EULA that you more thank likely agreed to without reading.
http://www.scei.co.jp/ps3-eula/ps3_eula_en.html
So
Also, for those who hacked their consoles. You knew there was a risk when you did it. You thought Sony couldn’t do this or you just didn’t care. You took a risk, it happened. You may lose PSN access. I can understand the feeling of being upset. Lets face it, you took a HUGE risk. Sony did what they are suppose to do and protect their product. People here are happy about it because it reassures publishers for new games and keeps away cheaters. This is not new. Every online service would do the same exact thing. Now you can have a fresh new start. Start there. If you can re-flash the firmware to stock without hacking it. Do so. If not, there is a Killzone 3 Bundle with your name on it. Get a PS3 Move while you are at it and have fun with us.
I am very happy that Sony is no longer standing by and allowing these hackers to run free, compromising the Playstation Network. I myself do not use such methods, but I do know of other who believe that cheating is a way to get ahead. I believe the old adage that cheaters never win, and this should serve as a warning to all who dare try to circumvent the process of online gaming. These hackers should be banned for life for such detrimental conduct. Security should be taken seriously, not used as an excuse for greed.
And yet I don’t suppose you’ll be giving back Install Other OS anytime soon.
The big problem here (and the reason why most people are all “YEAH SONY GET THE CHEATERS AND PIRATES) is because there’s a serious lack of ignorance on the full extent of the issue. Most people have just taken a quick look and assume it’s just about stopping people from stealing games which, yeah, when you put it like that, I’m completely for. But that’s not what this is about at all. It goes deeper than that. With the upcoming Sony VS Hotz trials, the federal regulations surrounding the limitations of property law are about to get rewritten and most people don’t even have a clue that their freedoms could potentially be infringed upon.
Get smart, people. Do the research and inform yourselves.
Piracy & hacking is not good. I support SONY’s statement.
Sony has the intellectual right of the software, but in my PS3, I am the owner, and I have all the right in the world to have Homebrew in it. Never played a pirate game in the PS3 and they call me a criminal???? Guess what, never gonna buy another game for the PS3. Sony is raising hell over Homebrew. Hacking is too much different from piracy. Hackers loath piracy. The only criminals here are Sony, by making everyone pay for some dumb kids that pirate. Wanna stop piracy? You can’t. No one could. But you could diminish it. For example…. err… hey!! look at Apple! And iTunes.. Oh! wait… you’r leaving iTunes… boooh ooh… the world doesn’t revolve around you. Less money for your record label that is more successful in extorting talented artists than supporting them. What would the world be without hackers, can you imagine that? No Apple, no Microssoft. Heck! I bet that there wouldn’t be a Sony either! Everybody hacked something to make it do something else. Grow up! Also, there are already too many cheaters in PSN without the piracy. One of the reasons I stopped playing online.
Level of knowledge, not lack of. I hate typos.^
And again. It’s just not my day.
Agreed that pirates ruin the industry but lemme make myself clear. YOU CAN NOT GET RID OF PIRATES. They will be forever existant and continue their piraty pirate ways. All though I am happy that sony is making an effort to stop it but I’m afraid they wont even make a dent in pirating
Thank you, Sony. I dont want hackers/cheaters ruining my online experience
and by the way, hackers don’t make cheats. Crackers do it ;)
I assume everyone leaving “pro Sony” comments is NOT of the “OMG, Apple is closed and evil” camp, right?
Just wondering…
Good job Sony
Bye Bye Stupid Hackers always trying to ruin something. I Bet Microsoft paid them to do it too
@ certainBS
If we were all like you and stealing other people’s games, there would be no one left to actually support developers and thus no new games.
I hope Sony bans you based on your idiotic and out of line rants.
More whining I see. HAHAHAHA. Saintaquass they can ban me all they want….what they CAN’T stop is me playing pirated games. Is that hard to understand? HAHAHAHAHA. So bring on the ban hammer. Bring it good. I will still play MvC3. I’ll still play Uncharted 3 when it gets here I’ll still play it ALL. While yall are in here crying like some females. Don’t like hacking? Then dont do it. That simple. Stop crying and looking my way.
I’ve got to take issue with ‘circumvention’ and ‘piracy’ being tarred with the same brush. There are legitimate reasons why some would want deeper access to their PS3 (running Linux, for example) that have nothing to do with piracy.
Personally, I have NO desire to run Linux OR pirate games. I like my un-hacked gameplay experience and as a member of a clan with both PC and XBOX arms I’m truly thankful I don’t have to put up with the incredible annoyances those platforms regularly endure.
However there should be a middle ground and I loathe this ‘black or white’ mentality when it comes to how people choose to use their devices.
i dont agree with sony in all this, they know that the MAJORITY of the user in PSN are legal, but then they are wasting our time, with bugged updates (like 3.56 that we cant update our hard drive) that wont add any features, people are requesting long time for better media compatibility, i mean adding .MKV but then sony its not helping.
Instead of removing features and making more useless attempt to prevent hacking they should make a better experience for LEGAL users and not screwing it.
Yes!!! Ban Hammer now!!!!!! YES!!!!!
People who say homebrew = piracy are brainwashed idiots.
Sony’s motivation here is control.
Just the same as when Apple referred to people who jailbreak their Iphones as “terrorists”.
Pure. Total. BS.
My PS3 is not hacked, but with this kind of reaction, it makes me consider doing it out of spite.
@252
Im an older gamer too and I dont agree with you at all. Wanting to get rid of piracy and hackers has nothing to do with greed. Sony and all developers deserve to make money off there hard work. If you dont like it try and find something where people dont try to make money. It’s the nature of the world. How would you feel if people start stealing from your job so much that you get put out of work. It’s different then huh?
YA!! Go Sony!! now I don’t have to go through sleepless nights worrying that my PS3 is being hacked!! Take that evil hackers!! You are at Sony’s mercy now!! MWHA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!! But this only affects the people that hook up to and have there PS3’s communicate with the illegal devices, right? Because whenever my computers on and my PS3 is on, My PS3 picks up the signal from my computer, and I don’t want to have my PS3 kicked off the internet forever because I forgot to turn off my computer. But keep it up Sony, soon the hackers will be stopped for good!!
@ Christian399 very well put. ( we likey !)
that was an (anderson silva, front kick to the face, KNOCK OUT!) point. :) comment # 250
Thank you!!!!!! Please just start banning all of the hackers. They definitely deserve it.
@289 – Using homebrew isn’t stealing – no matter how many times Sony says it is. Your analogy is flawed.
Thank God!
Way to go Sony!
Does this mean we all can play MW1 and MW2 again!
It’s been a long time coming!!
Good idea, ban them from PSN for life! The problem is if they are evasive and keep changing usernames and creating new accounts. I think you should track the ISP the hacked machine is using and prosecute to the full extent of the law! Make an example of some of these thieves! Heck, post their names and addresses online and all us legit folks can pay them a visit!
I really don’t thing that anyone who does stuff like this is really scared of Sony or cares. Chances are they either have an un-modded console or have figured out a way to get it connected to the PSN anyway.
maybe one way to combat this is to create some kind of app channel or something similar that would enable people to create stuff, like MS does with the indie channel on Live.
I really hope that Sony isn’t going to resort to something really draconian that will only punish people that buy games legit & don’t hack or mod their consoles