Sony released a consumer alert for the Playstation 3 warning users about hacking their consoles. The warning doesn’t mix words as it very plainly tells you that by hacking your PS3 you violate the TOS and if you do that, they’re gonna ban you from PSN. They used the term, terminated permanently.
Here’s what Sony said, “Unauthorized software for the PlayStation®3 system was recently released by hackers. Use of such 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/Sony Entertainment Network and its Community Code of Conduct provisions.” They continue, “Violation of the System Software License Agreement for the PlayStation®3 system invalidates the consumer’s right to access that system. Consumers running unauthorized or pirated software may have their access to the PlayStation®Network and access to Sony Entertainment Network services through PlayStation®3 system terminated permanently.”
So there you have it. Sony doesn’t want the same problem it had with the PSP (rampant piracy) so it’s taking measures to protect its games and system. Players hacking their system can make all sorts of messes ranging from hacking cheats for online play, running dangerous/virus like software on their consoles and of course copying and playing illegal copies of games. Proponents of the hack argue that Sony’s copyright control is too strict and shouldn’t ban users from running their own PS3 backups and PS3 homebrew games.
Playstation Consumer Alerts Page
This article includes resources gathered from our in-house investigative reporter, George Eleftheriou.