wraggster
March 23rd, 2011, 22:42
George 'Geohot' Hotz, the hacker behind the well-publicised (http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-ps3-security-in-tatters) PlayStation 3 security breach earlier this year, has scarpered to South America rather than go toe-to-toe with Sony's lawyers, according to the disgruntled platform holder.
Court documents filed by Sony and dug up by VGHQ (http://vghq.net/2011/03/23/george-hotz-runs-away-to-south-america-lies-about-having-psn-account/)claim that Geohot has been deliberately non-compliant with demands to present various devices for inspection, and has now turned tail and fled the country.
"Though the evidence establishing personal jurisdiction is already overwhelming, SCEA has little doubt that there is much more," read Sony's complaint.
"However, over the last several weeks. Hotz has engaged in a campaign to thwart jurisdictional discovery at every turn – regardless of whether the Court has ordered such discovery or not.
"Most seriously, after Magistrate Judge Spero ordered an inspection of Hotz's devices and ordered Hotz to appear at a deposition in California, SCEA learned that Hotz had deliberately removed integral components of his impounded hard drives prior to delivering them to a third party neutral and that Hotz is now in South America, an excuse for why he will not immediately provide the components of his hard drives as requested by the neutral.
"Hotz's attempts to dodge this Court's authority raise very serious questions."
It's safe to say things are looking decidedly dicey for poor old George. Sony is now also claiming that he lied to the court about having a PlayStation Network account.
"Hotz identified four PS3 Systems in his possession. He explained that he had purchased one of these consoles new in February 2010 and provided the serial number for that console. SCEA used that serial number to determine that on February 25, 2010, Hotz purchased the PS3 System at a Gamestop store just miles from his home.
"SCEA's records show that the same PS3 System was used on March 10, 2010 to create a PSN account under the user name 'blickmanic.' The IP address associated with the registration is located in Glen Rock, New Jersey, where Hotz lives."
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-03-23-ps3-hacker-flees-to-south-america
Court documents filed by Sony and dug up by VGHQ (http://vghq.net/2011/03/23/george-hotz-runs-away-to-south-america-lies-about-having-psn-account/)claim that Geohot has been deliberately non-compliant with demands to present various devices for inspection, and has now turned tail and fled the country.
"Though the evidence establishing personal jurisdiction is already overwhelming, SCEA has little doubt that there is much more," read Sony's complaint.
"However, over the last several weeks. Hotz has engaged in a campaign to thwart jurisdictional discovery at every turn – regardless of whether the Court has ordered such discovery or not.
"Most seriously, after Magistrate Judge Spero ordered an inspection of Hotz's devices and ordered Hotz to appear at a deposition in California, SCEA learned that Hotz had deliberately removed integral components of his impounded hard drives prior to delivering them to a third party neutral and that Hotz is now in South America, an excuse for why he will not immediately provide the components of his hard drives as requested by the neutral.
"Hotz's attempts to dodge this Court's authority raise very serious questions."
It's safe to say things are looking decidedly dicey for poor old George. Sony is now also claiming that he lied to the court about having a PlayStation Network account.
"Hotz identified four PS3 Systems in his possession. He explained that he had purchased one of these consoles new in February 2010 and provided the serial number for that console. SCEA used that serial number to determine that on February 25, 2010, Hotz purchased the PS3 System at a Gamestop store just miles from his home.
"SCEA's records show that the same PS3 System was used on March 10, 2010 to create a PSN account under the user name 'blickmanic.' The IP address associated with the registration is located in Glen Rock, New Jersey, where Hotz lives."
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-03-23-ps3-hacker-flees-to-south-america