Geohot Gets Sued By Sony *UPDATED*

[Mytherial]

*UPDATE* It seems like Sony planted evidence on Geohot. They donated a fake donation link with $1.00. lol
Next court hearing will be Thursday morning at 10:00 AM PST.
Also there are new documents on his page.

Source: http://psx-scene.com/forums/f6/sony-mib ... otz-75467/

LOL I actually read the counter complaint filed by Geohots Lawyer and I've gotta say... He has some seriously valid points. Also if anyone has access to document 4 that sony filed on 1/11/11 (insanely long at 282 Pages...) you REALLY need to jump to page 270 to read that comment... apparently Sony has been going around different websites and IRC chats and screenshotting anything they think might be useful to help build their case that Geohot's jailbreak was to condone piracy. However, what ever they were using seems to have had some serious flaws. I dunno what the rest of those 282 pages say, but based on this particular page alone... I'd say that most of it will be dismissed as sheer garbage and hearsay. At first I was sorta worried about Geohot since they basis for the lawsuit had some merits... but as the case rapidly develops, it's starting to become more obvious that Sony is grasping at straws.

Sony even went as far as to "donate" $1 to Geohot's PayPal so they could say that he is "profiting" off of his code. Isn't that entrapment or something similar? So yeah, his lawyer though seems to be completely on top of Sony's complaints debunking virtually every one that Sony tried to fire off. I get the feeling that the TRO is going to be denied.


EDIT: **** I just glanced at the opening portions of document 4 as well...
Exhibit C was apparently brought forth from the future....

4. Attached hereto as Exhibit C is a true and correct copy of an article entitled, "PlayStation 3 hack - how it happened and what it means", posted December 29, 2011.

So yeah apparently the people at Sony have invented a rather useful time machine as well...

EDIT 2: Also... I guess the Wii hacks are now involved somehow in the PS3 hacks as several of the Exhibits are articles regarding the Wii?

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[Aconcit]

I don't get how Geohot was blackmailing Sony. He basically just said if Sony is looking for someone who can make their system secure, get in touch with him. I highly doubt he's saying "If you don't want me to hack your next system, give me a job."

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[Nilats]

I don't get how Geohot was blackmailing Sony. He basically just said if Sony is looking for someone who can make their system secure, get in touch with him. I highly doubt he's saying "If you don't want me to hack your next system, give me a job."

but they will argue that point and while the rest of the case against him seems like *** they may have a little more ground to stand on with this complaint

[Mytherial]

I don't get how Geohot was blackmailing Sony. He basically just said if Sony is looking for someone who can make their system secure, get in touch with him. I highly doubt he's saying "If you don't want me to hack your next system, give me a job."

but they will argue that point and while the rest of the case against him seems like *** they may have a little more ground to stand on with this complaint

The problem is, by throwing everything they possibly could at him like they did, it's very possible that this case will simply be thrown out since so much of it is pretty much useless. Also, truthfully now that I've read the comment he made, there is no extortion in it at all..

His exact words...

if you want your next console to be secure, get in touch with me. any of you 3.
it'd be fun to be on the other side

[Nilats]

His exact words...

if you want your next console to be secure, get in touch with me. any of you 3.
it'd be fun to be on the other side

Sony is presenting this as "give me a job or else I will F-up your next console" which I think could reasonably be believed

[Mytherial]

A couple of small updates regarding this case....
from GeoHotz's website (http://www.geohot.com/):

As of 2:00 PM EST, 1/14/2011, I am not subject to any TROs

Seems like good news....

And a statement from his lawyers rom psx-scene (http://psx-scene.com/forums/f6/law-firm ... otz-75976/)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 14, 2011

Law Firms defend Sony's Accusations against George Hotz

San Francisco, California – Today, attorneys Stewart Kellar and Yasha Heidari announced they intend
to vigorously defend the baseless accusations asserted by Sony Computer Entertainment America
LLC (“Sony”) against Mr. George Hotz.

“Make no mistake,” Stewart Kellar, intellectual property attorney and e-ttorney at law™ stated, “this
case is not about Sony attempting to protect its intellectual property or otherwise seek bona fide relief
from the court. Rather, it's an attempt from Sony to send a message that any individual using Sony
hardware in a way Sony does not deem appropriate will result in harsh legal consequences from a
multi-billion dollar company, irrespective of any legal basis or authority for such action.”

Sony recently filed suit against a number of individuals, including Mr. Hotz, a 21-year-old computer
prodigy who is well-known for his accomplishments and innovations in the field of phone and computer
development, such as for creating the ability to provide for iPhone interoperability between various
cellular network carriers. Citing unfounded concerns and a dubious legal basis for jurisdiction, Sony
seeks relief from the Court due to Mr. Hotz re-enabling core functionality of the Playstation 3.

“I think it is quite telling that Sony, who is legally required to provide notice to Mr. Hotz before seeking
any special relief with the Court, decided to e-mail Mr. Hotz a copy of their motion at 7 p.m. when a
hearing was scheduled for the next morning at 9 a.m. in California, while Mr. Hotz does not even live
in California. Sony is seeking various unreasonable relief, such as seizing Mr. Hotz's personal property
and computers. Luckily, the Court postponed the hearing,” said Yasha Heidari, Esq., managing partner
at Heidari Power Law Group, LLC.

Mr. Kellar added, “This case not only has profound implications for the parties involved, but it also
implicates core property rights for every consumer out there.” Recently in April of 2010, citing the fact
that the Playstation 3's terms and conditions reserve the right to modify the PS3's settings and
features, Sony inexplicably issued an “upgrade” that removes the end user's ability to utilize the PS3's
OtherOS functionality. Consumer familiar with the PS3 know that OtherOS is a powerful tool that is
critical in allowing its users to utilize the PS3 as a personal computer. Sony had previously touted the
PS3's OtherOS as a major selling point and feature that would receive Sony's continued support. Yet,
despite this, Sony took the position that consumers must either choose to upgrade the PS3 to play
newer game titles and lose OtherOS support, or ignore the update to keep OtherOS but be prohibited
form playing newer titles.

Mr. Heidari stated, “While most companies issue firmware upgrades to increase a product's abilities
over its life cycle, Sony has taken the unacceptable and draconian approach of decreasing the PS3's
capabilities by actually destroying a core feature of the PS3. Imagine taking in your car for an oil
change and having the manufacturer remove your car's air conditioner, radio, and half its horsepower
because of fears that other hypothetical individuals might abuse their vehicles. It just doesn't make
any sense, and it's a slap in the face to the consumers that put their support behind the product.” Mr.
Kellar proclaimed, “This case rests on Sony's misguided belief that it has the unfettered ability to
control how consumers use the products they legitimately purchase.”

Both attorneys agree that Sony's interpretation of the law is quite troubling. The attorneys state they
hope the judge will deny Sony's motion, but regardless of how the judge rules, they fully intend to
defend Mr. Hotz in this action, which has wide-spread implications for consumers globally.

[ViP3R]

How'd the heck did the know GeoHotz name?

[waratte]

How'd the heck did the know GeoHotz name?

GeoHotz has to tell them his real name.

[MaX_SLayeR]

How'd the heck did the know GeoHotz name?

They can use the internet like anyone else can. Besides, he's an attention ****. He's been sued by Apple before and is always on the news and finding ways to attract the media.

[waratte]

How'd the heck did the know GeoHotz name?

They can use the internet like anyone else can. Besides, he's an attention ****. He's been sued by Apple before and is always on the news and finding ways to attract the media.

I haven't heard of him 'til now and I've a iPod touch 2g.