His attorney says:<p>Hotz's attorney, Stewart Kellar, told Threat Level and IGN that Hotz has not fled to South America and that the missing components have been provided to Sony.<p>Its just Sony trying to declare him guilty in public.<p>He's on vacation:
<a href="http://geohotgotsued.blogspot.com/2011/03/fearmongering.html" rel="nofollow">http://geohotgotsued.blogspot.com/2011/03/fearmongering.html</a>
Isn't it fantastic how a company can sue someone for using something that he <i>bought</i> in a way that was not intended by the company? This make 'ownership' kind of a funny thing since Sony still has rights on a product even if it does not own it any more (you bought it!).<p>I know that some other countries (e.g. Germany) allow anyone to do whatever he likes with something he bought as long as he does not re-sell it. But if he bought it, it belongs to him, and he is free to do with it whatever he wants--be that using it as intended, destroying it, or hacking it.<p>What if Sony would declare it illegal to destroy your Play Station? Would they be able to sue you for throwing it out a window? Would they be able to sue you for indadvertedly breaking it during a power surge?<p>Seriously, this is very close to what is happening to Hotz right now. US law is fucked up!
I find it interesting that they need his hard drive or any equipment as proof that he did something illegal. At this point is it just Sony making stuff up about what he did before they have all the facts?<p>Protip: If your equipment is at risk being seized by the cops, feed it to tumblbeasts for proper disposal.
I find it understand how a company that released some of the most creative advertising of the past decade (Sony Bravia adverts) could simultaneously be so PR-self-destructive.<p>Is the leadership of top companies really so blissfully unaware of the impact of social news?
We had that "news" several times already (i.e. it's a dupe of a dupe by now) and - as commented here again, it seems to be blatantly wrong/false.<p>The linked article differs with every submission, but always repeats the "that guys seems to have fled" thing.