For a few days, the PS3 Dev Wiki was down due to hosting problems and a lot of information seemed to be lost, but thanks to the hard work of the Wiki’s admin defyboy and a backup from a member called TMAnd, only a couple of days work was lost, you can read about it on this thread.

So thank you defyboy and TMAnd for rescuing all those precious edits

I would like to point out, that the PS3 Dev Wiki is a community effort, without the work and dedication of a lot of developers and PS3 enthusiasts, the wiki would be quite empty, so if you are doing work on the PS3, keep it documented on the Wiki

You can visit the Wiki here:
PS3 Dev Wiki

I would like to give thanks to euss, deroad, defyboy, Lady Anne Blunt, sandungas and the many other editors who keep the Wiki alive.

Last September, Sony made a controversial change to their T.O.S, implementing an Individual Binding Arbitration, which meant, that once you agreed to those T.O.S, you could no longer take Sony to court, over any wrong doing or mistake caused by them on the PSN service.

On November last year, a PS3 owner filled a lawsuit against Sony, stating that the company engaged in unfair and tortious conduct when they required PS3 owners to agree to a new T.O.S, here is a small quote from the court document:

The imposition of the Agreement was unfair, plaintiff argues, because without
any consideration the Agreement altered the parties’ contractual relationship and imposed for the first
time requirements that PSN users agree to submit disputes between the user and Sony to arbitration and
waive their right to resolve disputes through a class action. Id. Users had to accept the terms of the
Agreement in order to continue accessing the PSN. Id., ¶ 2. Users were able to opt out of the arbitration
clause and class action waiver provisions, after they agreed to the Agreement. Id., ¶ 18. However,
plaintiff alleges that defendants put up barriers and discouraged users from opting out by imposing
onerous requirements, including requiring opt outs to be submitted in a written notice by mail. Id.
Defendants move to dismiss the complaint, arguing that plaintiff does not have standing under
the UCL – which requires a showing that plaintiff lost “money or property” as “a result” of defendants’
conduct – and because no cause of action for tortious breach of the implied covenant of good faith and
fair dealing exists under California law outside of insurance coverage disputes. Plaintiff opposes that
motion and the matter is now before the Court.

Now im sure you wont be surprised that the court dismissed this case, just like they dismissed the OtherOS lawsuit, so it seems that Sony are allowed to do what ever they want, you spend hundreds of pounds on PSN content, only to be told that you have to get rid of OtherOS in order to keep access to all that content you bought, only for a year year later you must go through the same type of decision again.

Source

Court Document

The government and it seems to be mainly the US government wants to spy on and censor everything we do, for the internet they try and enforce such things as P.I.P.A and A.C.T.A, not content in trying to stop us enjoying the internet we use, the US government, specifically the Department of Homeland Security, want tools to basically “hack” into our games consoles and check to see if we are terrorist’s or paedophiles, here are a few snippets from the source:

Government researchers say that hacking into consoles will allow police to catch pedophiles and terrorists.

At the cutting edge of this development is Obscure Technologies, a small San Francisco-based company that performs computer forensics and which has just been awarded a $177,237 sole-source research contract to develop “hardware and software tools that can be used for extracting data from video game systems,” and “a collection of data (disk images; flash memory dumps; configuration settings) extracted from new video game systems and used game systems purchased on the secondary market,” according to the contract award from the U.S. Navy.

Thing about it: Your Nintendo Wii might tell government investigators when you were connected to the Internet, who you were talking to, what you were saying, and what you were playing. “Taken in context, it could end up revealing more than you expect,” Higgins warns.

For the full story, visit the source here.

Benjamin Grobler a South African inventor, along with his attorneys Christopher Banys and Richard C. Lin from the The Lanier Law Firm, have filled a lawsuite against both Sony and Apple for infringing patent laws, here is a quote from the source for a better understanding than i can explain:

The inventor of technology used in data vending systems such as the iTunes and Playstation Network systems has sued Cupertino, Calif.-based Apple Inc. (NYSE: APPL) and Foster City, Calif.-based Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC (NYSE: SNE) for patent infringement.

Inventor Benjamin Grobler is represented by intellectual property attorneys Christopher Banys and Richard C. Lin from the Palo Alto, Calif., office of The Lanier Law Firm. The lawsuits filed March on 27, 2012, allege that Apple and Sony are infringing U.S. Patent No. 6,799,084.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office issued the ‘084 patent to Mr. Grobler in 2004. The patent covers data vending systems that allow users to store and manage digital music, video, software and other items on a variety of electronic devices.

According to the lawsuit, Apple and Sony have infringed the patent by making and offering infringing data vending systems such as iTunes and the Playstation Network, and that the companies are inducing their customers’ infringement by using these systems.

“You would be hard pressed to find someone who hasn’t listened to music or watched a video through iTunes or the Playstation Network,” says Mr. Banys, head of the nationwide intellectual property practice at The Lanier Law Firm. “Tech giants can’t just take an inventor’s work and use it as their own. This lawsuit represents our client’s effort to bring some accountability to the system.”

The cases are Benjamin Grobler v. Apple Inc., No. CV-12-1534, and Benjamin Grobler v. Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC, No. CV-12-1526. Both are pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

Source

Im wondering why it has taken this inventor so long to take action against both these companies.

It has been quite a while since we spoke of the OtherOS lawsuit, i wrote here of how Sony were planing to dismiss the case, then in July 2011 the court case continued, with that hearing just recently being brought to light by the awesome Groklaw,here is a part of that hearing:

THE COURT:
– the big difference between the last complaint and this one, in terms of an item that is being
presented as a basis for these claims, particularly the express warranty claim, is the statements by Mr. — I think his name is
“Harai” — about the life cycle, if you will, of the PS3. And I suppose my question is: Aren’t you expecting
that statement to carry an awful lot of water here, in terms of providing any kind of warranty that the Other OS function is
going to be maintained in seeming perpetuity, and in no way will be affected going forward; at least, with respect to this ten-year period that you’re identifying? It’s a very general statement about the market cycle of a product. And to transform that into the flagship of your warranty claim seems
to be expecting a lot out of that statement.

MR. QUADRA:
Well, your Honor, let me at least clarify one point. Our allegation is not that it is a market-cycle statement; that, in fact, it refers to the life of
the product, itself. When it was first made, that specific statement in its entirety, which I believe — the defense counsel sort of cut part of the quote — goes on to say that they’re not envisioning putting out a new product, because they purposely make their products to last this period of time.

You can read the full article at the source here.

Or you can download the PDF here at PS3HaX.

A group of gamers have set up a website, and are offering to send Opt-Out letters to either Sony Or EA, which will break the mandatory binding arbitration, imposed on you by these two companies, here is a quote from the source:

Gamers Opt Out is a collective of gamers who are sick of absurd EULAs from game companies. These EULAs have clauses preventing class-action lawsuits, though you can opt out of the clauses by sending a letter. We want to make it easier for everyone to opt out because Sony, EA, et al, believe most people won’t bother to. Let’s show them they’re wrong.

We will make it easy for you to create the letter needed to send to these companies and can even send the letter on your behalf at no cost. All we ask is that if you like what we are doing, spread the word or donate to help with the cost of paper and postage.

Source

Whilst we do think that this is a good idea, we have to warn you, that you will have to fill in your personal details, such as PSN username and home address, if you are not comfortable with this DO NOT use the service, also we are no way affiliated with them.

Thanks to both Alycan and Mr.Goodfrag for the news.

The recent ToS change for the PS3, makes you waive your legal rights, has a 30 day Opt Out clause, You must send Sony a letter within 30 days of agreeing to the ToS

Washington attorney Thomas Buscaglia, who specializes in games

States “”This really sort of sucks because it is doubtful that any individual could afford to sue them,” explained Washington attorney Thomas Buscaglia, who specializes in games. “Not sure how enforceable it will be, but I think it it would be really cool if gamers started to circulate a form opt out rejection of these terms and mailed them in.”

“If you do not wish to be bound by the binding arbitration and class action waiver in this Section 15,” reads the Terms of Service, “you must notify SNEI [Sony Network Entertainment] in writing within 30 days of the date that you accept this agreement.”

“This is certainly not standard practice by any standards…in fact it may well not be enforceable,” said Buscaglia. “Time will tell on that one. The US Federal Trade Commission and various state consumer protection agencies could have a problem with it. Also, some courts might not allow it to be enforced due to existing state court precedent.”

SOURCE

The source also confirms , at the moment, this ToS solely applies to US and does not affect EU/Australia yet.

I suspect they are trying to live up to their slogan, “It only does everything”…

Now screw’s you in the a$$

Recently Sony went through some changes, regarding the naming of some of it services, it has renamed its Qriocity service to S.E.N(Sony Entertainment Network), with that name change and its restructuring of the S.N.E.A/S.N.E.I services, came a some what Controversial New T.O.S, i wont use shocking as nothing that Sony does in regards to its loyal customers is a shock anymore, not that i will be getting into the root kits and removal of OtherOS, i will stay with the subject at hand, the new T.O.S:

Throughout most of the T.O.S, you will see loads of red text and red lines running through text, one thing that caught my eye was the striking out of key words like purchasing and owning, that were replaced with “licensing”, so what that basically means, that any product you “buy”, is no longer yours as you are only licensing it, or in other words renting it, until such times Sony removes that service/feature, a quote from article #4:

Your existing PSN wallet will be used forto purchase of content licenses or services offered on QriocitySEN. You must transition your QriocitySEN account to a PSN account for purchase ofto license content or purchase services available on PSN.

Now whilst that is quite bad in itself, the main reason for this article, which was brought to my attention, by PS3/aMSN Developer KaKaRoTo via Twitter, is chapter 15 of the T.O.S, which is an Individual Binding Arbitration, which with it being a PSN T.O.S, means it is an mandatory binding arbitration, as you HAVE to agree to it in order to use the service, here is a quote of what a binding arbitration means, pay close attention to the part i have highlighted in red and underlined:

What is arbitration?
Arbitration is an alternative method of resolving disputes in which two parties present their individual sides of a complaint to a arbitrator or panel of arbitrators. The arbitrator, who is supposed to be neutral, then weighs the facts and arguments of both parties and decides the dispute. Arbitration may be voluntary or mandatory.

What is mandatory binding arbitration?
In mandatory binding arbitration, a company requires a consumer to agree to submit any dispute that may arise to binding arbitration prior to completing a transaction with the company. The consumer is required to waive their right to sue, to participate in a class action lawsuit, or to appeal.

Why are so many consumer groups opposing mandatory arbitration in automotive transactions?
Many mandatory binding arbitration agreements are written to protect the dealer.

Read more about arbitration here.
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During February and March of this year, we reported on Sony and LG going through a court case, it got serious when LG had manged through the courts to get an injunction against the sale of PS3′s, many consoles were seized by customs officers in the Netherlands, after almost two weeks, Sony managed to get this injunction lifted and PS3′s were allowed to cary on their normal journey, but the dispute between the two companies was far from over, until today, where the have signed an agreement, here is a quote from the source:

(Reuters) – LG Electronics and Sony said on Thursday that they have resolved patent disputes between the two firms spanning smartphones, TVs and Blu-ray technology, with LG adding that they have signed a cross-licensing deal.

“LG and Sony recently agreed to drop patent infringement lawsuits against each other,” a spokeswoman at South Korea’s LG Electronics said. Sony confirmed this, but declined to comment further.

LG shares were up 1.3 percent, outperforming the Korea Composite Stock Price Index’s (KOSPI) 1.7 percent fall, while Sony shares were down 2.7 percent, hitting a 2-1/2 year low, against a 1.5 percent drop in the benchmark Nikkei average.

Sony and LG have been embroiled in a string of bitter lawsuits on a wide range of products in Europe and the United States since the two technology giants failed to renew a technology sharing agreement that expired three years ago, a person familiar with the matter said.

Sony had filed a complaint against LG with the U.S. International Trade Commission, seeking to block LG from shipping its Rumor Touch and several other smartphones to the United States.

LG also told the commission that Sony’s PlayStation 3 infringed its Blu-ray video technology.

The patent spat culminated in the seizure of PlayStation 3 game consoles by customs officers in the Netherlands following a court injunction by LG in March.

Source Reuters

So those of you looking to buy PS3′s in the future, need worry no more about them being seized.

Remember the guy that made Server Mapper…goes by the name: “cotojestwtf“. Well various sources are reporting that he was recently raided by Polish police which resulted in the closure of his youtube account, along with no longer being able to work on the PS3Linked project.

He most likely got in trouble for Server Mapper which was used in conjunction with f*ck PSN (falsifying SSL/certs) to bypass PSN restrictions on CFW. For those who don’t know the PS3Linked project was a way for CFW and OFW to connect to each other to play”online”…similar to XlinkKai but able to play with a wider array of PS3 consoles.

The admin over at a Polish PS3 site has posted the following (translated):

At the beginning i want to apologize all people that waiting for an aplication Ps3Linked. Well known is that we want a public test, but he doesnt start. why ? i explain . Unexpectedly one of my familiar people has brought on me to police that i pirate/hack Playstation 3. For proof, he indicated my youtube channel. Day 30.06.2011, the two policeman in the morning, has confiscated my PC and i go with them to police station. It has managed to reach an agreement ultimately, that I will receive no punishment for my YT channel, but they find other things.

I have obtained my PC 2.07.2011, but all empty. Aplication PS3Linked is still in WIP 90% [work in progress] but im no longer to work on that, but There let’s be certain to see this application daylight soon. After this , i understand many dewelopers about next CFW , you should them understand too, because , you dont know when the law is going to kick in your face. What with me ? I dont create any ,,tutorials” YT channel with ,,dark side”, but i still will be watching ps3 sites less throwing for eyes categories.

[Source PS3-Hack, VIA PS3Crunch]

Well it cant come as much of a surprise, to see a class action lawsuit being filled, yet again, against SCEA, for something they did, or didn’t do.

With all the problems with the hacking of PSN and various other Websites, we knew it wouldn’t belong before someone complained, whilst there was a few cases brought up during the PSN outage, this is the first since PSN has been restored.

On the 20th of June 2011 Felix Cortorreal, Jacques Daoud jr. and Jimmy Cortorreal, filled a class action complaint, against Sony Corporation of America, Sony Computer Entertainment of America, Sony Picture Entertainment and Sony Network Entertainment International, here is a small quote from the court document:

To read the full document, download here.

It has been quite a while since we have heard of the awesome PS3 Developer, graf_chokolo, yesterday he posted this on his blog:

Hi guys, no money left anymore. Going to jail soon probably because i cannot pay court costs.
But i’m ready to stand up for everything i said and go to jail for that too. It’s not important to win, more important is to show them that we are ready to fight, that they cannot scare me off easily. Yeah, i’m ready to go to jail for my believes and my principles.
Most of people probably think that all computer and kernel hackers are weak kids, hiding in a cellar, eating pizza whole day, writing software and looking for attention Maybe, but that’s NOT me. And i will get out eventually and continue my work. My work means very much to me.

Source

On the 18th of May, we reported that Mary Bono Mack, Chairman of a United States House Of Representatives Sub Committee was not happy nor satisfied, with the first set of answers, from the first set of questions that the Sub Committee sent Kazuo Hirai, so Mary Bono Mack sent Kazuo a new set of question and, here is a quote from his response:

To answer the Committees i believe that it would be helpful to provide additional background information so that the Committee can better understand the nature and complexity of these events.
Sony was the victim of multiple cyber attacks that occurred over a period of several weeks. initially. Anonymous openly called for and carried out massive “denial of service” attacks against numerous Sony internet sites in retaliation for Sony Computer Entertainment America bringing an action in Federal Court to protect its intellectual property. The bulk of these attacks were targeted at services offered by SNEA and SOE. many of these attacks lasted for several days. We know that some time shortly after those attacks one or more highly skilled hackers infiltrated the servers of SNEA and SOE. The first indication that there was a a problem was when several of SNEA’s servers began to act in an unexpected manner.
Four servers were initially isolated as suspect. As similar abnormalities were discovered in other servers within the network system, the decision to shut down the entire system was made.

To read the full letter, download it below.

Source Of Information.

Download Kazuo Hirai’s Letter.

On the 29th of April, a United States House Of Representatives Sub Committee, sent SCEA Chairman Kazuo Hirai a letter asking questions regarding the PSN outage, Kazuo responded to that letter, but it seems that those answers weren’t enough, Mary Bono Mack, Chairman of that Sub Committee has sent yet more questions to Kazuo, here is the letter:

May 17, 2011

Mr. Kazuo Hirai
Chairman
Sony Computer Entertainment America
919 East Hillsdale Blvd.
Foster City, CA  99404
Dear Mr. Hirai:

We write today to follow up on requests we submitted in our letter to you on April 29, 2011.  In that letter, we made several queries regarding the data breach experienced by Sony Corporation’s Playstation Network last month.  We thank you for providing a written response and for making Sony representatives available to speak with us in person on May 3, 2011.

At the time you sent the above referenced response and at the time of the briefing, Sony was unable to answer several of the queries we posed in our April 29, 2011, letter.  Now that more time has passed, enabling further investigation of the incident, and particularly in light of the news that Sony restarted its Playstation Network on May 14, 2011, we submit these questions to you again, as well as questions regarding the discovery of a breach impacting Sony Online Entertainment customers.  We request answers no later than May 25, 2011.

1. Has your investigation revealed any additional information on what customer information was specifically obtained, and whether the information was obtained from all accounts or a portion of the accounts?

2. When Sony representatives briefed our staff on May 3, 2011, they indicated that personal information from all 77 million accounts had been breached in some form.  In your May 3, 2011, response to our letter you indicated not every piece of information in each account had been stolen, but that some personal information on all 77 million had been stolen.  Has your investigation revealed what information was taken from each individual account?  Do you have any additional information that would call for revising the number of affected accounts?

3. Has your investigation revealed how the breach occurred?

4. Your initial reply to us on May 3 indicated the attack may have been coordinated and directed by the group of cyber criminals named “Anonymous”.  Have you identified those who are responsible for the breach, including any individual(s)?

5. When our staffs met on May 3, 2011, your representatives indicated Sony could not confirm whether credit card information had been breached but, at the time, there was no evidence to indicate that such information had been breached.  Has your investigation revealed any additional information regarding whether credit card information was indeed taken?

6. Sony discovered on May 1 that an additional breach of its network occurred.  This breach reportedly involved approximately 25 million user accounts at Sony Online Entertainment.

a. Was this breach the same as, related to, or unrelated to the Sony Playstation Network breach?  Have you identified the responsible party?

b. When did the breach occur?  If there was a delay in the discovery of the Sony Online Entertainment breach, what was the reason for the delay?

c. How many user accounts were impacted?

d. What information was taken?

e. When did Sony notify its Sony Online Entertainment users that their accounts had been breached?

7. What steps has Sony taken or does Sony plan to take to mitigate the effects of these breaches on its customers?

8. Regarding both the Sony Playstation Network and the Sony Online Entertainment servers, you indicated in your May 3 response steps Sony is implementing to prevent future such breaches. Do you believe these additional security measures will prevent future breaches or illegal intrusions?  Why did you not have these measures in place prior to the breach(es)?

9. Did Sony have a policy in place at the time of either breach addressing data security and data retention practices?  If not, why not?  If so, what are those practices and does Sony plan any changes in its policies as a result of this breach?

10. In today’s Wall Street Journal, Chief Executive Howard Stringer said Sony “can’t guarantee the security of its videogame network…in the ‘bad new world’ of cyber crime”.  Please explain what he meant, as well as the potential impact on consumers.

Thank you for your attention to and assistance in this matter.

Sincerely,

Mary Bono Mack
Chairman

G. K. Butterfield
Ranking Member

Source

Sony and the PS3 have been quite popular in the media and the courts lately and it seems there is no let up on that situation either, as a former U.S. Navy F-18 Fighter Pilot named John Ryan McLaughlin, has decided to sue Sony, Bethesda and Zenimax, claiming their game Elder Scrolls Oblivion caused him to have a seizure, which resulted in him breaking a bone and losing his job, here is a quote from the source:

SAN DIEGO (CN) – A former Navy pilot claims the video game “Oblivion: The Elder Scrolls IV” gave him a grand mal seizure that caused him to lose his flight status. John Ryan McLaughlin says he was playing the game when its strobe lights gave him “a grand mal seizure for the first time in his life,” causing excruciating pain and breaking a bone.
McLaughlin, a former F-18 pilot, says the seizures caused him to permanently lose his flying status.
The game is made by lead defendant Bethesda Softworks, of Rockville Md. McLaughlin also sued its corporate parent, Zenimax Media, and Sony Computer Entertainment, which makes the Playstation 3 system on which he was playing the game when he was affected, on March 28, 2010.
McLaughlin says the seizures were caused by the defective product: “The product was so designed that it exceeded the upper acceptable limit of more than 3 flashes over a 1 second period, as well as acceptable spatial pattern and luminance flash limits. These risks were not made known to the plaintiff and/or an ordinary consumer prior to the time of purchase.”
He says, “The defective and dangerous condition of the product, and that it was unsafe for the use and purpose for which it was intended when used by certain consumers as recommended, was expected and reasonably anticipated by the defendants, and each of them, or in the exercise of ordinary and reasonable care should have been known and discovered by defendants, and each of them.”
He seeks punitive and damages for negligence, breach of warranty, and product liability. He is represented by Dennis Minna of Santa Ana.
Similar problems were reported in Japan in 1997, when fast, repetitive strobelike effects in the “Pokemon” cartoon series were blamed for sending hundreds of children to hospitals with seizures and seizure symptoms.

Source

Say what you want about Sony, Hate it all you want, but in my opinion, Sony is not guilty of anything.

You know when you are just about to start feeling sorry for a company that’s is going through a hard time, you are reminded quite abruptly that it was their own fault.

Sony used outdated software, outdated security and knew that your details were at risk, they monitored forums like PS3HaX and PSXScene, they seen what we wrote, i know i have stated this before, but i will state it again, back in February of this year, there were several major warning signs that PSN and its security was at risk, these articles that were posted, there is absolutely no doubt that Sony read them, they were warned via Twitter, they were warned via Email, so was it arrogance that stopped them researching, this arrogance that led them to believe that their security was safe, because their machine was free from risk, was it their anally retentive obsession with chasing the likes of GeoHot, fail0verflow, graf_chokolo and all the other hackers that threw them of track, or were Sony to dumb to figure out the flaws, regardless of the reason, their negligence put 50k+ users details at risk.

Now before i spiral off into a rant that will make me looks like a deluded idiot, the main reason behind this news article is the Court Case which happened to day, where the US House of Representatives’ Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, began hearings on the huge security breach of both PSN and SOE, those in attendance were David Vladeck(Director Bureau of Consumer Protection Federal Trade Commission), Pablo Martinez(Deputy Special Agent in ChargeCriminal Investigative Division, U.S. Secret Service), Justin Brookman(Director Consumer Privacy Project Center for Democracy and Technology), Dr. Gene Spafford(Executive Director Purdue University, people not in attendance were Sony( surprise ?).

Here are a couple of quotes from the opening Statement by Mary Bono Mack Chairman, Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade:

In recent years, sophisticated and carefully orchestrated cyber attacks – designed to obtain
personal information about consumers, especially when it comes to their credit cards – have
become one of the fastest growing criminal enterprises here in the United States and across the
world. The boldness of these attacks and the threat they present to unsuspecting Americans was
underscored recently by massive data breaches at Epsilon and Sony.

With 77 million accounts stolen – including some 10 million credit card numbers – the data
breach involving Sony’s PlayStation Network has the potential to become the “Great Brink’s
Robbery” of cyber attacks. And the “take” keeps going up.
While the FBI and Secret Service, along with other law enforcement agencies, work around the
clock to try and crack this sensational case, we now learn that a second Sony online service was
also compromised during the same time period. Computer hackers obtained access to personal
information relating to an additional 25 million customer accounts. That’s more than 100
million accounts now in jeopardy.

Like their customers, both Sony and Epsilon are victims, too. But they also must shoulder some
of the blame for these stunning thefts, which shake the confidence of everyone who types in a
credit card number and hits “enter.” E-commerce is a vital and growing part of our economy.
We should take steps to embrace and protect it – and that starts with robust cyber security.

As Chairman of this Subcommittee, I am deeply troubled by these latest data breaches, and the
decision by both Epsilon and Sony not to testify today. This is unacceptable.

In Sony’s case, company officials first revealed information about the data breach on their blog.
That’s right. A blog. I hate to pile on, but – in essence – Sony put the burden on consumers to
“search” for information, instead of accepting the burden of notifying them. If I have anything to
do with it, that kind of half-hearted, half-baked response is not going to fly in the future.

Full PDF Can Be Read Here

A quote from Justin Brookman:

(more…)

Natasha Maksimovic a 21 year old Canadian PSN user/Playstaion gamer is suing Sony on behalf of all Canadian PSN users, for the recent breach in security, the lawsuit claims damages in excess of $1 billion, which includes having Sony pay the costs of credit monitoring services and fraud insurance coverage for two years, McPhadden Samac Tuovi LLP, the lawyers representing Miss Maksimovic, posted the following press release:

Toronto – May 2, 2011
For Immediate Release
Canadian Sony PlayStation Network Class Action
Sony has announced that personal information for 77 million PlayStation and Qriocity users
worldwide, 1 million of which are in Canada, has been hacked. It has been alleged that Sony
was aware that such information had been stolen but failed to advise users of PlayStation and
Quriocity in a timely fashion. Sony has acknowledged that stolen information may include
users’ names, addresses (city, province, postal code), country, email address, birthdate,
PlayStation Network/Qriocity password and login, and handle/PSN online ID and user profile
data, including purchase and usage history and billing address (city, province, postal code), and
the subscriber’s PlayStation Network/Qriocity password security answers. The same data with
respect to a dependent may also have been obtained.
Sony is not able to say whether user credit card or debit card information was also taken.
Sony has acknowledged and apologized for breach. To date, the only compensation Sony has
offered is 30 or 60 day free memberships on its PlayStation network.
While Sony has advised American users about the availability of free credit reports, it has yet to
advice Canadian users about credit reports.

The Toronto law firm McPhadden Samac Tuovi LLP has commenced a proposed class action
against Sony Japan, Sony USA, Sony Canada and other Sony entities (“Sony”) for the breach of
privacy. The lawsuit claims damages in excess of $1 billion, which includes having Sony pay
the costs of credit monitoring services and fraud insurance coverage for two years.
The plaintiff in the action is 21 year old Mississauga resident who has been an avid PlayStation
user for years. Natasha Maksimovic said: “If you can’t trust a huge multi-national corporation
like Sony to protect your private information, who can you trust. It appears to me that Sony
focuses more on protecting its games than its PlayStation users.”

Source
Thanks to “The Canadian Press”

According to online reports, Sony had fired ~200 employees from SOE a few days before the PSN massive attack which led to the compromise of user personal information. A 2 week notice was handed out on March 31st, 2011 which gave whomever enough time to think, plan and act on the PSN attack – and would have all the clearance to easily to do it . Whats even worse is that if it DID turn out to be a inside job then the ex-employee could potentially have the tools to un-hash the stolen passwords and possibly even have the tools/resources to decrypt the important information such as your credit card numbers.

To quote from The Hollywood Reporter:

Sony Online Entertainment has closed three of its game studios and laid off 205 workers as part of a massive restructuring.

All possible steps are being taken to ensure team members affected by the transition are treated with appropriate concern.”

To quote from Wikipedia:

On March 31, 2011, SOE has confirmed that “it will eliminate 205 positions and close its Denver, Seattle and Tucson studios.”

On April 27, 2011, Sony, the parent company of SOE, released statements regarding an intrusion, on or about April 18th, into the PlayStation Network, and the potential theft of up to 77 Million subscribers personal data. Sony maintains that PSN and SOE are hosted and run on completely separate subsystems and that the PlayStation Network intrusion had no major affect on SOE’s online services.

On May 2, 2011, SOE completely interrupted their online services. Over the previous month several intrusions of PSN have caused the developers to post messages of concern and apology, but also assurances the SOE servers and systems were not compromised. This most recent development has shut the service down entirely with the message: “We have had to take the SOE service down temporarily. In the course of our investigation into the intrusion into our systems we have discovered an issue that warrants enough concern for us to take the service down effective immediately. We will provide an update later today (Monday).”

Things are tumbling downhill fast for Sony, and PSN up this week looks pretty grim. Maybe a movie will be made about this entire fiasco

What do you guys think, could this really be the result of an inside job?

[VIA PSX-Scene]