Oh, Sony.
The venerable old company - who have actually done some smart things lately - have gone and shot themselves in the foot. First, they have demanded that Google hand over the IP addresses of anyone who commented on or like a private YouTube video detailing how to hack the PS3. They are also asking the same of Twitter for anyone who linked to the page. Sony will sue anyone who links to or spreads the hack.
First, let's keep in mind that the PS3 hack came about because of a glaring mistake in Sony's security, and stemmed from an attempt to put back a feature Sony removed. Second, since when it is a crime to comment on a page - or even link to something? This is the height of using the courts to try and stifle what should be legitimate activities.
Thankfully, in a stunning display of stupidity, Sony punished themselves. A hacker tweeted a code used to help crack the PS3 security to marketing figure Kevin Butler. And Butler's response... was to retweet the code. Yep. Sony, who are suing people to stop the spread of such code, spread it (albeit temporarily) to Butler's 70,000 followers.
Sweet sweet karma, right?
About the Author
Navneet Alang is a Toronto-based technology and culture writer whose work has appeared in The Atlantic, The New Republic and The Globe and Mail. Between 2010 and 2011 he wrote technology commentary for TECHi on Apple, cloud video and the future of the desktop computer.
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