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Sony Tries To Remove News Articles About PlayStation 4 Slim Leak From The Internet (techdirt.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the legal-action dept.

Sony is expected to announce two new PlayStation 4 consoles at a scheduled event on September 7th in New York City, but as that date nears more leaks of the consoles have emerged. The most recent leak appears to show the upcoming PlayStation 4 Slim, which Sony is trying to remove from the internet by taking down news articles from social media accounts about the leak. Erik Kain via @erikkain on Twitter tweeted (Tweet no longer exists): "Sony issued a takedown and had this post removed from my Facebook page: https://t.co/fIjP0buTdY (Warning: may be paywalled)." Techdirt reports: "[The Forbes post] references the work Eurogamer did in visiting the leaker of the image to confirm the console is for real (it is), as well as generating its own image and even video of the console working for its story on the leak. But if you go today to the Eurogamer post about the leak, the video has been replaced by the following update. UPDATE, 7.30pm: Upon taking legal advice, we have removed the video previously referenced in this article. Left unsaid is whether or not any contact had been made by Sony with Eurogamer, thus prompting this 'legal advice,' but one can imagine that being the case, particularly given Sony's threats to social media users sharing images and reporting of Sony leaks and, more to the point, threats against any media that might report on those leaks."

39 of 85 comments (clear)

  1. Why by sexconker · · Score: 5, Informative

    Why would you comply with such a demand? It's newsworthy and they have no standing to have it removed.

    1. Re:Why by Falos · · Score: 1

      Their advisors have no incentive to keep it, and some to warn "absolutely zero risk" is "wisest".

      Of course, that's pretty much why intimidation works.

    2. Re:Why by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Maybe they can get Peter Thiel to help them protect Sony's privacy.

      PETER THIEL: WORLD PRIVACY POLICE!

    3. Re:Why by Desler · · Score: 1

      Because it's easy to tell others what to do when you aren't being threatened with a lawsuit?

    4. Re:Why by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

      This has nothing to do with NDAs. A member of the public bought this unit on the open market and Eurogamer sent a photographer over to capture it. They have every right to publish.

    5. Re:Why by AHuxley · · Score: 2

      The Pentagon papers https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... showed that to the US press. Once the press has a news worthy event its free to publish.

      --
      Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
    6. Re:Why by Falos · · Score: 1

      Ghettos have real threat, for the sake of this argument.

      Sony is faking threat.

      Like a pufferfish.

    7. Re:Why by sexconker · · Score: 1

      Oh, I've been threatened. I've never had anyone dumb enough to even try to follow up on their laughable bullshit. The closest anyone came was crying to the police and having them contact me with bogus "we'll open a harassment investigation" horseshit. Guess what never happened.

    8. Re:Why by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      These sites reporting it haven't signed an NDA.

    9. Re:Why by bloodhawk · · Score: 3, Insightful

      well legal matters aside places like Eurogamer are dependent for their survival on the good will of gaming companies. Try staying relevant when your reviewers no longer have early access to games or receive devices for testing and reviewing before release.

    10. Re:Why by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I agree. Gawker failed to lick the boots of our glorious masters the rich and powerful, and... *sobs* sometimes made fun of them! THEY EXPOSED THEM TO MOCKERY! The MONSTERS!

      You know Thiel is going after Politico now? Because Politico published stories about Melania Trump's wife's immigration status being at odds with her husband's rhetoric.

    11. Re:Why by ganjadude · · Score: 1

      or

      a store has stock already and some stockboy put it out early without knowing because they dont play games and dont care?

      happens all the time

      --
      have you seen my sig? there are many others like it but none that are the same
    12. Re:Why by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · · Score: 1

      They don"t, but uninvolved (in the crime) people further downstream do have the right to take a picture and publish.

      In the US, anyway.

      --
      (-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
    13. Re:Why by dadelbunts · · Score: 1

      Except they instead put up a video of some dude fucking, and ignored a court order to take it down. Protip: Dont ignore court orders.

    14. Re:Why by D00MSlayer · · Score: 1

      Wait Melania Trump has a wife?!

    15. Re:Why by TechForensics · · Score: 1

      Even persons 100% in the right will decline to spend $1,000,000. in legal fees to prove it. Everyone sued who is in the right faces this dilemma.

      --
      Those are my principles, and if you don't like them... well, I have others.
    16. Re:Why by sexconker · · Score: 1

      One million? Court can be expensive, but this is a joke of a "case" that Sony would likely never show up to, let alone file. A completely ignorant person could easily defend themselves against such a thing, presuming they're ever actually served, using the free resources available to them. Just ask the clerk of the court. You'd likely be able to recoup your costs as well.

      Your honor, this is what we published on that date. It is newsworthy, as it depicts a rumored upcoming product our audience, and many of Sony's current and potential customers, are interested in. We are not bound by any agreement with Sony regarding this information, nor did we commit any crime in obtaining it. If Sony believes a crime was committed we will reveal our source to the court for review, and the court can decide whether or not to release that information to Sony. While Sony has various trademark and copyright claims on the purported products depicted in the video, we were not involved in creating the purported product featuring said trademarks, nor are we involved in selling the purported product (nor has Sony claimed that this product is non-genuine and unfit to bear said trademarks). Further, any copyright claims should be dismissed as this is a clear example of fair use - our articles deal with news, reviews, and critical commentary.

    17. Re:Why by Coren22 · · Score: 1

      Well, it would make sense...someone has to please her since he obviously is too busy, and likely incapable.

      --
      APK likes to ask for responses to the same things over and over. Maybe he just likes the responses?
    18. Re:Why by Coren22 · · Score: 1

      Your opinion is noted, however, the courts are not bound by your opinion on the matter. The fact is that Gawker posted a sex video of someone without their permission. This is an actual felony charge in many states. Gawker thumbed their nose at the courts and was smacked down for it.

      The funny thing though is how they were flipping out about the Jennifer Lawrence pictures, but then had the gall to post a sex tape.

      --
      APK likes to ask for responses to the same things over and over. Maybe he just likes the responses?
  2. my legal advice by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Its not illegal to report on news or share news unless there is publication ban, if Sony feels they have been damaged they have option to sue source of leak.

  3. Re:Bottes Timberland Pas Chers Homme by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    SPAM advertising an online store (probably selling knockoffs), mod down this crap in a hurry, please.

  4. Original source: by Gravis+Zero · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The pictures were originally uploaded to NeoGAF which Forbes then used. Seems to me that Sony is trying to exploit the Streisand Effect, so I won't link to it because it's just another boring looking black box.

    --
    Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
    1. Re:Original source: by rtb61 · · Score: 1

      I could believe that, Sony is really wacked when it comes to marketing. Who can forget the whole mysoginst B$ of ghost busters to drive free advertising, that failed and most everyone is pretty hacked off with Sony. I would suggest the switch away from being controversy dicks and develop some reasonable manners. They seem to have switched into panic mode after a series of failures and really stupid blunders.

      --
      Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
    2. Re:Original source: by stealth_finger · · Score: 1

      I could believe that, Sony is really wacked when it comes to marketing. Who can forget the whole mysoginst B$ of ghost busters to drive free advertising, that failed and most everyone is pretty hacked off with Sony. I would suggest the switch away from being controversy dicks and develop some reasonable manners. They seem to have switched into panic mode after a series of failures and really stupid blunders.

      Well, it is a black box so they can probably cry racism if you don't like it.

      --
      Wanna buy a shirt?
      https://www.redbubble.com/people/stealthfinger/shop?asc=u
    3. Re:Original source: by houghi · · Score: 1

      Because they have the law on their side due to more expensie lawers.

      --
      Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
    4. Re:Original source: by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      I could believe that, Sony is really wacked when it comes to marketing. Who can forget the whole mysoginst B$ of ghost busters to drive free advertising, that failed and most everyone is pretty hacked off with Sony

      I have no idea what you're talking about. In what way was Sony misogynistic about the new movie?

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  5. Completely ineffective by el+americano · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Naturally, their tactics have been completely ineffective at stopping the reporting. I have to wonder if they were hoping for the Streisand Effect, where angry gamers would share the PS4 Slim photos to get 'revenge' on Sony. People don't seem to care very much about this iteration of the Playstation, and why should we?

    --
    Those are my principles. If you don't like them I have others. -Groucho Marx
  6. It's very effective by Otis_INF · · Score: 1

    as a marketing strategy. Think about it: it leaks weeks before the announcement. Every day articles pop up, people talk about it for hours on forums, social media, IRL... No-one talks about the XBox One S anymore. Then the announcement comes, and as it looks like the eurogamer article is based on a stolen item, it can very well be the Slim is available immediately: which is the right time because the hype built-up has been going on for weeks.

    --
    Never underestimate the relief of true separation of Religion and State.
    1. Re:It's very effective by LordWabbit2 · · Score: 1

      Heh, I agree, my first thought was "Hey, I want to get a look at that!"
      Not that it matters, I stopped buying consoles ages ago, they keep getting stolen, except the Wii, they never steal that.

      --
      There are three kinds of falsehood: the first is a 'fib,' the second is a downright lie, and the third is statistics.
  7. Boycott any litigious vendor by ruir · · Score: 1

    How about boycotting any vendor that does not show any sign of even trying to respect their customer base?

    1. Re:Boycott any litigious vendor by farble1670 · · Score: 1

      How about boycotting any vendor that does not show any sign of even trying to respect their customer base?

      ^^^ This.

      Sony does business like every market is Japan where they are the darling nationally subsidized pet corporation. Why someone would opt for Sony over MSFT because their console had some negligible performance edge is beyond me.

  8. Re:geohot was the last straw by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    A gaming platform's quality is entirely dependent on the games. Not the specs.

  9. Re:Delete the internet by SScorpio · · Score: 1

    Exactly, we'd have a Buck Rogers or Lost in Space style future if everyone wasn't so busy watching cat videos all the time.

  10. Re:Already bought Xbox One S instead, next! by dadelbunts · · Score: 1

    Get Forza 6. Let me know how much you miss GT.

  11. Re:WARNING: Forbes link by D00MSlayer · · Score: 1

    That's not a link.. That's a hydra! Kill one URL and two will re-appear!

  12. Re:geohot was the last straw by D00MSlayer · · Score: 1

    You make it appear way more complicated than it is. I've built 3 systems in the last decade and a half, and only once did I upgrade the graphics card before making a new build. I've been rocking out a 650Ti for the last 3 years and I haven't had ANY problems playing current games.

    It's only complicated if the user makes it complicated

  13. Re:geohot was the last straw by Coren22 · · Score: 1

    It is a hell of a lot cheaper to upgrade a computer than to upgrade a console.

    OMG, the Google grammar checker tells me a lot should be alot...since when?! The spell check says alot is wrong though...they need to take a look at their algorithm.

    --
    APK likes to ask for responses to the same things over and over. Maybe he just likes the responses?
  14. Re:Bottes Timberland Pas Chers Homme by Coren22 · · Score: 1

    It gets modded down. I am not sure why the person thinks they are doing anything. Perhaps they don't realize that all -1 posts aren't indexed by Google and are hoping to raise the Google ranking of the URL?

    --
    APK likes to ask for responses to the same things over and over. Maybe he just likes the responses?
  15. Re:Video games by Coren22 · · Score: 1

    http://www.statista.com/statis...

    Only 27% of gamers are below 18. Perhaps you should rethink your life, many people enjoy video games and derive pleasure out of beating the latest video game.

    What I find more odd though is the >50 demographic. They didn't grow up with video games, but are a huge demographic.

    --
    APK likes to ask for responses to the same things over and over. Maybe he just likes the responses?