Sony To Ban PS3 Pirates From PSN, Qriocity

Responding to high-profile hackings of the PS3 and early piracy for Killzone 3, Sony has warned that PS3 owners found running unauthorized or pirated software will be banned from PlayStation Network and its Qriocity services. Since hackers released information and files last month enabling PS3 owners to circumvent copyright protections and run pirated games, Sony has aggressively sought to limit the spread of "jailbreaking" by suing and filing restraining orders against hackers, and forcing web sites to remove related files. In a statement released today, the company criticized "unauthorized circumvention devices" that load pirated software, pointing out that using those devices violates the terms of the PS3's System Software Licensing Agreement, as well as PSN and Qriocity's Terms of Services and User Agreement. "Violation of the System Software Licence Agreement for the PlayStation 3 System invalidates the consumer guarantee for that system," said Sony in the statement. "In addition, copying or playing pirated software is a violation of International Copyright Laws." The company also noted that circumvention devices and piracy can damage the online experience for law-abiding PS3 users, as evidenced by the cheaters taking advantage of hacks in the PS3 version of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare -- a problem Infinity Ward says isn't fixable with a simple patch. Sony added that violators can avoid having their PSN banned from the PlayStation Network and Qriocity (Sony's currently Europe-only on-demand streaming service for music, games, e-books, and video) by removing circumvention devices and deleting unauthorized/pirated software from their systems. "By identifying PlayStation 3 systems that breach our guidelines and terminating their ability to connect to PlayStation Network, we are protecting our business and preserving the honest gameplay experiences that you expect and deserve," says Jeff Rubenstein social media manager for Sony's PlayStation Blog. He added, "Rest assured, this message does not apply to the overwhelming majority of our users who enjoy the world of entertainment PlayStation 3 has to offer without [circumventing the system's security and copyright protections measures], and we urge you to continue doing so without fear."