Sony Wins TRO, Impoundment

“Sony’s motion for a temporary restraining order, asking for an
injunction and impoundment, has been granted [PDF]. The Hon. Susan
Illston says she thinks Sony has demonstrated that it is likely to
prevail on its DMCA claim. She has also ruled that Sony has met its
burden to show that the Court has specific jurisdiction over George
Hotz in California, because “he purposefully directed his
activities at the forum state.”

“A TRO is designed to prevent injury until a full hearing can
take place, and a date for that isn’t set yet. So that will be the
next step. Meanwhile, there’s a list of things that Hotz and anyone
working with him can’t do and must do. Like clean up the Internet
by taking back whatever he put up there about how to circumvent.
Sigh. And hand over any computers or equipment that has any
infringing stuff on it, and not erase anything. The judge says
Hotz’s lawyers are free to file a motion challenging jurisdiction
“on a fuller factual record,” if they want to, and they’ve said
they want to. But I doubt it will influence anything, judging by
this order.

“For now, it is ordered that George Hotz, his lawyers, and “all
other persons or entities in privity or acting in concert or
participation with Defendant Hotz” are temporarily restrained from
the following:”

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