[Source Game Politics]

George Hotz Must Let Sony Inspect Hard Drive

February 10, 2011

PlayStation 3 hacker George Hotz has been ordered by U.S. District Court Judge Susan Illston to let Sony inspect his hard drive. In her first pass, Illston said that Hotz needed to retrieve information "that relates to the hacking of the PlayStation." She later apologized to the attorneys and said that asking Hotz to do that was unreasonable.

"It’s information. It can’t be retrieved. It’s just not practical," Illston said. "What would they do, Xerox it and mail it back?"

Illston changed her mind because, she said, she "was not clearly aware of the details in her earlier order."

"This kind of got away from me and I apologize for that," she added.

Hotz' attorney Stewart Kellar complained about the hard drive, noting that Sony would be able to observe the entire contents of the computer.

At first, the judge said “That’s the breaks," but later clarified that Sony's search would be limited:

"Here, I find probable cause that your client has got these things on his computer," she said. "It’s a problem when more than one thing is kept on the computer. I’ll make sure the order is and will be that Sony is only entitled to isolate … the information on the computer that relates to the hacking of the PlayStation."

The judge ordered Sony's attorney and Kellar to work out the time and place where Hotz would allow Sony to sift through his computer and ordered him not to delete or modify any files connected to the jailbreak.

One thing that was not addressed in the Wired report was the whole jurisdiction issue. One would have to assume that the court believes it has jurisdiction over the case because it is ordering Hotz to turn over his hard drive.

We'll have more on this story as it develops.

Source: Wired

Man, they should have really gotten a judge that knows what's going on.  She kees going back and forth because she keeps misunderstanding just exactly how things work.

As I said in another thread, I don't think they'll find anything surprising about the hacks on his hard drive, I'm betting they're looking for proof that he pirates games.

That would get them:

1. If he pirates games then he must be making the hack to pirate games

2. It would go against what he told the community and hopefully make his lose face (though I doubt it)

3. If anything, have to pay fines for pirating games.

Oh man if they actually find out that he hacks games (if he does) that would crazy! 

If he hasn't already wiped his drives, he's an idiot.

He probably 'cleaned' his stuff a long time ago.

he was ordered not to do that, which means (if i understand things right) he could get in big trouble if he wiped the drive.

Only if they find out about it.

Clone drive with other similarly-sized drive containing normal data using sector-by-sector method. Job done. :<

If you're a scaredy cat, do a zero fill beforehand.

I'm pretty sure this is gonna end up being a waste of money for Sony.  Even if they somehow convict Hotz, what do they gain?  The hack is already out and they can't stop it. 

probably not just games - Sony could look for and possibly find pirated stuff of theirs in the form of videos or music too...their catalog is huge

but it looks like that even if they do find the stuff, if it doesn't relate to the PS3 cracking/hacking they can't use it in this case at this time.

They might be able to bring a separate suit for the other stuff, but then surely the evidence would be inadmissible? IDK

We're also told not to speed on roads, not to steal from people, not to cheat on our taxes, yet people still do that, I'm pretty sure somebody who is hacking a console will know how to get away with wiping his hard drive.

They have no right to be searching that stuff though, he could just counter sue their asses back for accessing stuff of his that they weren't ever given permission to access.