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Sony Trying To Crack Down On Illegal Users

News

by Matthew Kato on February 16, 2011 at 03:13 PM

8,939 Views

Since the PS3's root keys were distributed online, Sony's worst fears have come true – the system's security measures have been circumvented, and pirated copies of games like Killzone 3 have appeared online.

The company is already trying to fight back against the original hackers responsible in the courts, but now it is warning that PS3 users who run pirated software will have their PSN and Qriocity (its music and movie streaming service) accounts banned.

Here is the statement from Sony in full:

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 License 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.

Email the author Matthew Kato, or follow on Twitter, and Game Informer.

Filed under: News, Sony, PS3, Playstation 3, PSN, Sony Computer Entertainment, hackers, Qriocity

Comments

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by hobbitsslayer23 Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at 03:33 PM

i am not sure how much this is going to do seeing as once something is on the internet it is impossible to take it off. however i do hope this stems the tide of pirated games for ps3
by rguzman Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at 03:35 PM

That's good news
by gamefan4564 Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at 03:36 PM

sony should win this war with hackers, and psn use is a good way to go
by Will Bryer Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at 03:38 PM

I wonder how they would know if you are using pirated copies of the game? It wouldn't be like modding the game itself or some other network manipulation. I'm definitely not in support of using pirated games, but I'd be curious to see how far Sony will go to detect the pirates.

At any rate, this is like Sony trying to put out a fire by yelling at it. I don't think it will do much good.
by Ed Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at 03:39 PM

Ban them all Sony. Every single last one of them. And then, when they flood the forums crying like little girls, tell them "Tough ****, we gave you too many chances".
by Frosty Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at 03:48 PM

Sony plays hardball. I like it.
by KayoDot Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at 03:48 PM

Sounds good Sony. Ban those fu**ers.
by Quattro Bajeena Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at 03:51 PM

I get the feeling some innocents are going to end up getting banned. Not sure how a foolproof test could come around, unless they did end up going with the PC-like registration.
by ShadowDragyn Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at 03:53 PM

If I thought for one second that the people who use these hacks were only going to install homebrew apps to make their personal lives easier, I would care less about all of this. But the reality is they're not. Sure, some will use the hack for benign purposes. But others...well, they'll find a way to auto-kill me in CoD, reset my trophies, charge downloads to my account, etc. Every one of these people is subject to the terms of use agreements, which they accept every single time an update comes through. While the hardware may belong to them, it's use online is governed by the rules they agreed to. And they are BREAKING THOSE RULES, plain and simple. In short, ban them all. If they want to use it as their own personal platform, that's fine. But it should then work only in their own personal space.
by NoMercy85 Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at 03:54 PM

Isn't it a COINCIDENCE how well the timing on the hacking of the PS3 is? My theory is that the group that hacked the PS3 was paid by a competitor.

They knew Sony was going to have THE BEST LINEUP OF 2011. Nono. THE BEST LINEUP OF EXCLUSIVES OF ALL TIME IN THE HISTORY OF GAMING! And since they had no answer for it, they paid this group to hack the PS3 to get piracy going on SONY's biggest year of exclusives.

Go SONY! Defend gaming! So funny when you read articles like with CRYSIS 2 of PC players signing a "petition to buy the game." Hey retards they already have those. They're called pre-orders by those of us who don't steal our games.
by Myles Cadle Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at 03:59 PM

Good. Hackers should all be banned.
by HamJamIAm Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at 04:00 PM

Sounds to me like Sony has fixed their problem: If peeps wanna play that way, they need to know they're gonna pay for it one way or another. This is how you do it, Sony: punish them.
by Earthbound_X Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at 04:02 PM

Sounds like banned 360s, once they get banned, they can no longer connect to the internet. I think it's a good move.
by bioshocker Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at 04:13 PM

To hell with all of the hackers out there. I have a friend who just recently got a PS3 (well, about two months ago), and this happens?

Crush them Sony!
by NeroFrost Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at 04:14 PM

That was kinda predictable, seeing as how Microsoft's already cut access to Xbox Live for those who play dirty. It's still a great move to cut off access to systems that run pirated software, but it's only effective for those who rely heavily (or even partially) on official online services. If the system is flooded with single-player games only with little or no online component, people will turn, and seeing as how you can find custom firmware easily online, doesn't seem like they'll have much problem. Either way, this is the right decision made to combat piracy. And since it's legally binding according to the License Agreement, Sony's pretty much bulletproof on this move. Lets hope they dont start banning legit users "by mistake" though ~
by scary_baby Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at 04:22 PM

wow this should tittle SONY FIGHTS FOR GAMERS
by Opfer der Seele Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at 04:35 PM

Way to go Sony. Keep up the fight against piracy.
by Aeolus Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at 04:39 PM

Heh, in a way this will boost ps3 sales. Look at how well MS has been doing with their hacking problems. They just ban the modded 360 and the guy/gal just go out and buy another one lol. I can see the same thing happening with the ps3.
by Chris Mrkvicka Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at 04:50 PM

At least everyone here is being civil about this. Kotaku's story turned into a major argument about ownership rights for systems. Most of the people there are completely off base with their knowledge of civil law.
by Ben Perrin Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at 04:51 PM

Well done Sony. I agree with the rest of the comments. Stuff the hackers. People should buy all their games legitimately. This is a good move.