Sony are trying to remove a leaked PS4 SDK from the internet. And they’re not being very subtle about it
Today I received a copyright infringement notice from Sony’s lawyers, asking me to remove a file we’re hosting here at wololo.net.
The file is a zip containing an old version of CTurt’s open source PS4 SDK, of which the original can be found on github here, and has been there for years now.
I’m pretty convinced (note: not a lawyer!) that CTurt’s work does not consist in copyright infringement. However what’s much more interesting to me is that this does not seem to be the work that Sony actually are after.
Instead, it appears Sony have launched a witch hunt against a recently leaked version of their (official) PS4 SDK, a leak from a team named KromeMods.
A few other scene websites including playstationhax have received bogus DMCA complaints. Playstationhax had to take down an article reporting on the leak. The PlaystationHax article was not linking to any copyrighted material, and yet they have been asked to take down their article that was merely talking about the leak. We, here, at wololo.net, have been asked to remove a file that is not connected to that copyrighted material, but shares a similar name.
In other words, Sony’s lawyers are visibly doing some broad keyword search and blasting website owners and internet providers with takedown notices for everything that remotely looks like it might be related to the copyrighted file. Hey, that’s cost effective I guess, more than actually confirming if actual copyright infringement happened or not on the sites.
Of course, some sites where the leaked SDK was actually being distributed, including mediafire, have taken down the infringing file. Scene websites that were distributing the file have either removed their links or made their articles visible to members only. Again, we at wololo.net didn’t even discuss that PS4 SDK leak until today, let alone distribute it.
For now, I have decided to not take down CTurt’s SDK. I replied to Sony’s lawyers that they made a mistake with their takedown request for the files we host. Obviously, I do not have the intent to fight a long legal battle if they insist, and I might have to remove CTurt’s files from our server, even though that would be a collateral victim of some unrelated battle.
For reference, Sony’s Lawyers’ statement below (because the best way to fight abusive take down requests is to make them public):
Dear Sir or Madam:
Irdeto USA, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as “Irdeto”) swears under penalty of perjury that Sony Interactive Entertainment America LLC (hereinafter referred to as “SIEA”) has authorized Irdeto to act as its non-exclusive agent for copyright infringement notification. Irdeto’s search of the URL listed below has detected infringements of SIEA’s copyright interests on your website as detailed in the below report.
Irdeto has reasonable good faith belief that use of the material in the manner complained of in the below report is not authorized by SIEA, its agents, or the law. The information provided herein is accurate to the best of our knowledge. Therefore, this letter is an official notification to effect removal of the detected infringement listed in the below report. The below documentation specifies the exact location of the infringement.
We hereby request that you immediately remove or block access to the infringing material, as specified in the copyright laws, and insure the user refrains from using or sharing with others unauthorized SIEA materials in the future (see, 17 U.S.C. 512).
Further, we believe that the entire Internet community benefits when these matters are resolved cooperatively. We urge you to take immediate action to stop this infringing activity. We appreciate your efforts toward this common goal. [note from wololo: I urge you to double check actual infrginement before sending bogus dmca complaints, this would in return increase the probability of cooperation]
Please send us a prompt response indicating the actions you have taken to resolve this matter, making sure to reference the Notice ID number above in your response.
[link removed]Note: If your email program has inserted line breaks into the e-mail link above, you can copy and paste the entire link into your email program.
Nothing in this letter shall serve as a waiver of any rights or remedies of SIEA with respect to the alleged infringement, all of which are expressly reserved. Should you need to contact me, I may be reached at the below address.
Regards,
[name and address removed]
*pgp public key is available on the key server at http://pgp.mit.edu
Note: The information transmitted in this Notice is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. Any review, reproduction, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from all computers.
This infringement notice contains an XML tag that can be used to automate the processing of this data. If you would like more information on how to use this tag please contact Irdeto.
Evidentiary Information:
Notice ID: [removed]
Initial Infringement Timestamp: 19 Jul 2017 01:03:23 GMT
Recent Infringement Timestamp: 19 Jul 2017 01:03:23 GMT
Infringed Work: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Infringing File Name: https://wololo.net/download.php?f=2015/PS4-SDK-master.zip
Protocol: Web
Infringing URL(s): https://wololo.net/download.php?f=2015/PS4-SDK-master.zip
Infringers IP Address:
Infringer’s User Name:
If you own a website that has been the target of a similarly bogus request from Irdeto, feel free to share!
first
I’m not a programmer but, what is the importance of leaked PS4 SDK?
Do they contain secret key that allow you to jailbreak PS4 or something?
No, it allows you to create homebrew and understand how applications work on the console. Also, many times official SDKs are intellectual property of the console maker and they don’t want it leaked.
Moriphiend has the idea. To add on: a console SDK may allow you to develop games for said system theoretically, but it is still (generally) not possible to play on retail systems; you need a development kit, which is much harder to come by and more expensive than a retail console.
That being said, some systems (like Xbox One) have development features built in to the retail console, so it may be possible to play homebrew games on these consoles made with a leaked SDK. I don’t think that’s the case for PS4, however, so it’s mainly just for research and doesn’t have a lot of practical use for the normal end-user.
” but it is still (generally) not possible to play on retail systems; you need a development kit, which is much harder to come by and more expensive than a retail console.”
SDK = Software Development Kit
Which obviously is a “Development Kit”
You still need a hardware development kit to run that software though. (Barring of course exploiting a retail unit to do that stuff anyway.)
SDK’s have hardware info/specifications and function names/programming guides
It won’t just make hacks for you but it helps.
LOL wololo just keep fcking them up so soon they release a new Handheld PSP 3 they too much focus on PS4 keep fcking them up
Do not redistribute/share letter LMAO
Something is clearly coming.
No, SDK doesn’t mean anything but it is protected copyright material.
Downloaded it right now. Just in case… 😀
Watch the image and first think its Phoenix Wright may be port on PS4 )))
This doesn’t surprise me one bit. They’re probably a new firm that want to look good in front of Sony so that they can get future business from them.
*** that noise. Damn brown nosers.
FIRST!
Awkward… Stupid tablet. It didnt load the comment section xD. They will probably insist since they most likely wont care to process your reply :'(
now if only sony would un-ban from using a cheat for offline play that was not suppose to work online. how can i get a hold of these @** H****
First!
You’re right Wololo, if they keep pushing, no need to play though, just let the file go.
We need you and your awesome work.
Someone should post it on usenet.. then its DONE…..
Usenet receives DCMA takedowns all the time
Downloaded to be safe may even get it up on as meant sites as poss
Its litterally open source on github
1 word – @$$holes
to the kaz hirai and sony corp. cbs anchor cindy hsu recently got involved in dirty coraption business with crazy cbs anchor otis livingston to steal money from sony corp. employees bank accounts. never trust cindy hsu and otis livingston they nothing but crime makers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AFAIK, it seem all copyright infringement complains are based solely on a “filename”, not on the real content of such file. So then if someone decide to put some pron with the name PS4-Leak/PS4-SDK or whatever name seems alike to what Irdeto’s searching for they’ll send a copyright infringement complain based only and solely a “filename” and the backup of the power (money) of the company they claim to represent.
To me that looks more like “legal-harrasment”, than other thing. Sony has to be really *** to get to this.
But anyway… I don’t give a funk…
Oh BTW, just rename the file, change the link and thats it, sunny can kiss my… yeah, those.
Is it possible to add an edit feature for comments?
That’s what happens when there’s no de facto penalty for legal harassment, everyone who’s an *** sends takedown notices whether they have the right to or not.
File downloaded and externally hosted. Fu¢k $ony!
You do know that Sonys loggers are not lawyers at all. From what I’ve read they seem to be having helpers copy and paste self preserved and provided paragraphs stipulating their reasons. This would never hold in a court of law. Sadly it’s easy to play around in California but that’s as far as any courthouse in any state would go. All the other states would be in your favor even PlayStationhaxs. Sdk kits were meant others to use. Its like oil. Just because its branded doesn’t mean they invited it. I gurantee there’s alot of hoops sony would need to go through in order to prove their case.
It would be a shame if someone makes a hard to delete torrent with these files ;D
Wololo something weird is happening to my ps vita i have henkaku installed but i dont know why or if my ps vita update by accident or something happen when i tried to update henkaku 10 the thing is that my vita has firmware 3.63 now and doesnt say henkaku only 3.63 but everything is working games and emulators, any idea? i dont know if i need to reboot or turn off my vita because i dont wanna loose henkaku i can send you pictures or video
3.63means you can never henkaku again…install emulator are fine if it is in 3.65
I explained to Gregory Rasputin that the reason his DMCA was valid is he had hosted a picture of the SDK Documentation, which is considered intellectual material. In this ONE (1) specific case, that DMCA was technically valid.
As someone who is a developer for a console manufacturer, I can say with certainty that this was the only truly infringing aspect of his article.
You can download it anonymously at http://sikonorlsbn5wq3a.onion/
https://extratorrent.cd/torrent/18168723/PlayStation%204%20SDK%204.50%20Leaked%20by%20KromeMods!.html
thanks i was looking for it , download done
is sony is shitting around just tell them “ur copyright runs from 2003 – 2013
All content, titles, publisher names, trademarks, artwork, and associated imagery are trademarks, registered trademarks or copyright material of their respective owners. ©2003 – 2013 Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. All rights reserved.
http://www.scedev.net/ps4/
have a nice day and keep leaking , S0NY if u read this, make Software open-source so we can learn more about coding and game console’s, and if you want to lock ur Console or “make it unhackable” = don’t even sell ur product, everything is hackable …
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