PS3 hacker bans begin

Yesterday, Sony announced that it would soon be dropping permanent bans on all PlayStation 3 jailbreak users or those who have pirated software on their computers. The bans would permanently lock out the aforementioned offenders from the PlayStation Network, as well as Sony's Qriocity media network.

Now, users of hacker site PS3Hax are reporting that Sony's banhammer is already dropping in Europe and the US. First, those running custom firmware or using pirated software receive the following e-mail:

"A circumvention device and/or unauthorized or pirated software currently resides on your PlayStation(R)3 system. Immediately cease use and remove all circumvention devices and delete all unauthorized or pirated software from your PlayStation(R)3 system. Failure to do so will result in termination of your access to the PlayStation(R)Network and access to Qriocity(TM) services through your PlayStation(R)3 system."

If offenders do not reformat their hard drives and reinstall the official v3.56 PS3 firmware, they then receive this subsequent e-mail--which some have reportedly received with no warning at all:

"Notice: Access to the PlayStation(R)Network and access to Qriocity(TM) services through your PlayStation (R)3 system has been terminated permanently due to the use of unauthorized circumvention devices and unauthorized or pirated software on your PlayStation(R)3 system. This use violates the terms of both the "System Software License Agreement for the PlayStation(R)3 System" and the "Terms of Services and User Agreement" for the PlayStation(R)Network/Qriocity(TM) and its Community Code of Conduct provision."

Those so banned will then receive error code 8002A227 telling them "You cannot use PlayStation Network with this account" and see the pictured screen (above) when trying to log into PSN.