Sony seeks IDs for Twitter, YouTube users in jailbreak case
If you took a look at the George Hotz (geohot) PlayStation jailbreaking video that was formerly posted to YouTube, Sony wants to know who you are. The company is demanding that a federal judge order Google to release the IP addresses and other identifying information (.PDF) of those individuals who viewed or commented on the video.
The company has also asked Twitter for the information related to the “fail0verflow hacking team,” who first unveiled a rudimentary version of the jailbreak last December. Hotz released a refined hack weeks later when he independently found and published the PS3 root key. Sony has asked for the private information of @KaKaRoToKS, @gnihsub, @pytey, @bl4sty, @marcan42 and @fail0verflow.
Hotz' jailbreak, much like jailbreaks for iOS, allows user to perform functions they can't normally do. In the case of iOS, it means they can install non-Apple approved apps onto iDevices, and also potentially unlock iPhones. In the case of the PS3 it means users can play pirated and homebrewed games.
Ironically, Hotz is famous in the iOS hacking community. He provided a well-received iOS 3.x jailbreak, and has provided others as well. In 2010, the U.S. Copyright Office exempted cell phone jailbreaking from DMCA coverage. However, the act of jailbreaking still voids the warranty of an iDevice.
A hearing on the Twitter and YouTube matters is tentatively set for Wednesday.
The company has also asked Twitter for the information related to the “fail0verflow hacking team,” who first unveiled a rudimentary version of the jailbreak last December. Hotz released a refined hack weeks later when he independently found and published the PS3 root key. Sony has asked for the private information of @KaKaRoToKS, @gnihsub, @pytey, @bl4sty, @marcan42 and @fail0verflow.
Hotz' jailbreak, much like jailbreaks for iOS, allows user to perform functions they can't normally do. In the case of iOS, it means they can install non-Apple approved apps onto iDevices, and also potentially unlock iPhones. In the case of the PS3 it means users can play pirated and homebrewed games.
Ironically, Hotz is famous in the iOS hacking community. He provided a well-received iOS 3.x jailbreak, and has provided others as well. In 2010, the U.S. Copyright Office exempted cell phone jailbreaking from DMCA coverage. However, the act of jailbreaking still voids the warranty of an iDevice.
A hearing on the Twitter and YouTube matters is tentatively set for Wednesday.
