Petty unfounded lawsuit is petty.... and unfounded. Now, we gamers can move on to more important things such as enjoying games. Wait a sec. That's what we've been doing along. It's the haters that cannot find joy in gaming and un-needlessly continue to bash a company that they do not approve of.

They had a choice to keep it at the expense of sacrificing it as a games device. So what you're telling me is, say Sony decided the BluRay capability for the PS3 was deemed too insecure, so the next firmware removes BluRay playability. That's alright, right? You justified that you have the choice to either keep the BluRay, but never play online games or new games ever again, or happily remove BluRay....

Microsoft did not tell me to buy an Xbox 360.  So I did not buy an Xbox 360.  That's good, right?

"The installation manual is available on Terra Soft's Web site.

According to the manual, when Sony Computer Entertainment designed the PS3, "it was fully intended that you, a PS3 owner, could play games, watch movies, view photos, listen to music, and run a full-featured Linux operating system that transforms your PS3 into a home computer.""

you can't be serious... as far as i can see that is reffering to terra soft's manuel

now quit playing i want to see the advertising that i've heard sony so vigorously pushed for other os...

Nice point there, but you're forgetting one thing.

What does the software reside on? Hardware.

The laws for software prohibit the MODIFICATION of software not owned by you, but it doesn't prevent anyone from reinstalling a completely new software on HARDWARE THAT THEY OWN.

I mean seriously, are you guys LOOKING for ways to let Sony control you? Sheesh...

Good for you, but if you bought a system whose specifications changed after purchase, as opposed to ones whose specifications were never there to begin with (the decision of whether to buy or not), that is called "baiting".

what specifications? you still can't show me how other os was advertised... the truth is it was never an advertised feature pushed by sony... it was just an optional add on supported after release that sony eventually stopped supporting because it caused a vulnerability that geohot exploited... thats about it

You're looking at advertising in one perspective. What about statements spouted by the figureheads?

"Please be assured that SCE is committed to continue the support for previously sold models that have the 'Install Other OS' feature and that this feature will not be disabled in future firmware releases,"
(said Sony's Geoff Levand, PS3-Linux maintainer)

Sony Computer Entertainment Inc., PS3 Open Platform, 2006-2010:
"In addition to playing games, watching movies, listening to music, and viewing photos, you can use the PS3™ system to run the Linux operating system. By installing the Linux operating system, you can use the PS3™ system not only as an entry-level personal computer with hundreds of familiar applications for home and office use, but also as a complete development environment for the Cell Broadband Engine™ (Cell/B.E.)."
http://www.playstation.com/ps3-openplatform/index.html

Sony Computer Entertainment Inc., PS3 Manual, 2006-2010:
"Install other system software on the hard disk. For information on types of compatible system software and obtaining the installer, visit Open Platform for PlayStation®3."
http://manuals.playstation.net/document/de/ps3/current/settings/osinstall.html

Ken Kutaragi, June 2006,
CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment 2006-2007:
"Speaking about the PS3, we never said we will release a game console. It is radically different from the previous PlayStation. It is clearly a computer."
http://www.edge-online.com/news/kutaragi-details-ps3-computer-claim

Phil Harrison, February 2007,
President of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios 2005-2008:
"One of the most powerful things about the PS3 is the 'Install Other OS' option."
http://kotaku.com/235049/20-questions-with-phil-harrison-at-dice

Sony Computer Entertainment Inc., PS3 Linux Distributor's Starter Kit, 2006-2009:
"The Linux Distributor's Starter Kit provides information, binary and source codes to Linux Distribution developers who wants to make their distro support PS3."
http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux

Izumi Kawanishi, Sony, May 2006:
"Because we have plans for having Linux on board [the PS3], we also recognize Linux programming activities... Other than game studios tied to official developer licenses, we'd like to see various individuals participate in content creation for the PS3."
http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=9290

Geoffrey Levand, August 2009,
Principal Software Engineer at Sony Corporation:
"Please be assured that SCE is committed to continue the support for previously sold models that have the "Install Other OS" feature and that this feature will not be disabled in future firmware releases."
mailing list to PS3 customers using Linux

Phil Harrison, May 2006,
President of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios 2005-2008:
"The Playstation 3 is a computer. We do not need the PC."
http://www.spiegel.de/netzwelt/web/0,1518,418642,00.html


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PS3 advertising of other companies

Because of Sonys advertising of the PS3 computer capabilities, other companies have developed and sold PS3 Linux products:

Terrasoft, Press Release, 2006:
"Under basic agreement with Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc., Terra Soft was granted a unique opportunity to develop and bring to market a complete Linux OS for PLAYSTATION 3. In development of Yellow Dog Linux v5.0, Terra Soft integrated and enhanced code from Barcelona Supercomputing Center, Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc., and Fedora."
http://www.fixstars.com/tss/news/2006/2006-10-17.shtml

Fixstars, Yellow Dog Linux für PS3, 2006-2010:
"When Sony Computer Entertainment designed the PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™), it was fully intended that you, a PS3 owner could play games, watch movies, view photos, listen to music, and run a fullfeatured Linux operating system that transforms your PS3 into a home computer. Yellow Dog Linux for PS3 combines a simple to use graphical installer with leadingedge components and a foundation of musthave home, office, and server applications. Everything you need to browse the web, check and compose email, do your school homework or take your office work home is included with more than 2000 packages on the Install DVD."
http://www.yellowdoglinux.com/support/installation/ydl6.2_ps3_guide.pdf

Linux Journal, Linux on Playstation 3, 2007:
"Turn your PS3 into a dual-boot game machine and Linux box... The PS3 replaces your regular Linux box... Sony actually contracted with Terra Soft Solutions to produce a version of its Yellow Dog Linux for the PlayStation 3."
http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/9597

Sony contractor Terrasoft shows PS3 Linux, GDC video 2007:
"The Playstation was designed to be a home computer as well."


http://playedstation.blogspot.com/p/sony-ps3-promotion.html

And seriously......don't start this denial bullshit with me. Unless you're seriously not into gaming news, you cannot deny that figureheads for Sony were NOT talking up OtherOS...

Lol, ripping us off?  Are you serious?  Sony has given PS3 owners quite a bit of value for their money, probably outdoing other companies this gen.  Free online.  Decent web browser.  Free Wi-fi (something the original 360 didn't ship with).  Included rechargeable batteries in the controller (no need to spend extra money to purchase your own).  Blu-ray.  Concerning the article, Sony was the ONLY one to include an Other OS feature to let people play around with Linux using the PS3, without having to hack the console.  And everyone was happy til Geohot wanted to make a bigger name for himself by hacking the PS3.  He wasn't happy enough working with other hackers/homebrewers building upon PS3 Linux, making it better, faster.  He had to have the whole thing.  Which would have been fine if he had just kept it to himself or maybe just hacked a few of his friends consoles, instead of trying to get even more recognition fromt the masses.

@ OP

Glad this was the ruling.

Amazon was selling DRM free mp3 back when apple was still selling DRM'd song with license limits to the number of devises you could put those songs on.  sucks?  yeah.  illegal?  nope.  the only thing illegal is you can't modify those songs in any way to get around the protective DRM technology, that actually is illegal as you are violating your license agreement.

if you want to create a brand new OS ... by all means go ahead, i highly doubt sony would care either.  it is when you make modification to their OS to get around their security measures that they got all up in your face.  had geohot not found an exploit in the other OS feature to bypass their security you guys would still have it.  try to fuck with sony and they will fuck you back.  ...not that anyone will learn that lesson.