PSP 3000 Hacker Battery Lands Maker Datel in Legal Trouble

PSP 3000 Hacker Battery Lands Maker Datel in Legal Trouble

You may remember back in November we reported on the successful attempt by Datel (best known for the Action Replay line of products) to crack the PSP 3000. The development of the Lite Blue Tool allowed users to enter the handheld's service mode, thereby enabling them to downgrade the system's firmware and gain access to all sorts of third-party applications, tools, and emulators that Sony doesn't want running on the PSP. We quipped, "Your move, Sony," at the end of that story and it seems that Sony has indeed made a move -- to pursue legal action against Datel.

The listing for the Lite Blue Tool on Datel's website has been altered in light of recent events. Now known as the MAX Power Digital, the battery now only be able to put the PSP 2000 in service mode; when plugged into a PSP 3000 it will act as nothing more than a battery. Despite there being no indication of why the sudden change, Portable Video Gamer has received an explanation from Datel:

Due to legal action by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe we are currently not able to fulfill orders for the Lite Blue Tool Battery. Any orders received for this product have not been processed and no charges have been made. We will inform customers about availability of this product when this situation has been resolved.

It seems that we're back where we were before Datel's original announcement -- although now we know the PSP 3000 isn't hack-proof (as if such a feat were possible) and that Sony won't sit idly by while others crack their systems. Looks like the hackers and pirates will have to be more quiet next time or risk facing the wrath of Sony's lawyers.