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In July 2017, Sony Interactive Entertainment America (SIEA) sought removal of material tied to a leaked PlayStation 4 software development kit (SDK), according to contemporaneous reports. The story involved more than one kind of material: the leaked official SDK, a separate open-source SDK, and articles discussing the leak. Copyright notices requested action from online services; they were not court rulings on whether each reported use infringed.
What happened in the 2017 PS4 SDK story?
HotHardware reported on July 21, 2017, that PS4 SDK version 4.5 had been leaked online by KromeMods a few weeks earlier and that Sony was using copyright notices to seek removal of SDK materials. Its account also described a complaint affecting a PlayStationHax article about the leak. HotHardware’s July 21 report was contemporaneous coverage, not a court finding.
Wololo separately reported on July 19, 2017, that it had received a notice concerning a zip file containing an older version of CTurt’s open-source PS4 SDK. Wololo said that package had been available for years and was distinct from the recently leaked official SDK. It also said other sites had received notices, including one over an article discussing the leak without linking to the files. These descriptions reflect the affected publishers’ accounts. Wololo’s account and reproduced notice do not establish a legal determination about each complaint.
Which materials were involved—and why does the distinction matter?
| Material or activity | What the reports say |
|---|---|
| Official PS4 SDK | HotHardware identified the leaked package as version 4.5. Its report says Sony sought removal of SDK materials. |
| CTurt’s open-source SDK | Wololo said the file named in its notice was an older, separate open-source SDK, not the leaked official package. |
| Articles about the leak | The affected publishers reported notices concerning discussion of the leak, including an article said not to link to the files. |
Hosting a file, linking to it, and discussing its existence are different activities. The reports describe notices concerning these different situations, but they do not supply a court decision resolving the legality of each one. Neither report establishes an aggregate count of affected sites, copies, or removals.
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What did the reported notice say?
The notice reproduced by Wololo identified Irdeto USA, Inc. as SIEA’s authorized non-exclusive agent for copyright infringement notifications. It invoked 17 U.S.C. § 512 and requested removal or blocking of the reported material. The reproduced notice stated: “Irdeto has reasonable good faith belief that use of the material in the manner complained of in the below report is not authorized by SIEA, its agents, or the law.” That is the notice’s assertion, as reproduced by Wololo—not a court’s conclusion that infringement occurred.
How does a Section 512 takedown work?
The U.S. Copyright Office describes Section 512 as a notice-and-takedown system intended to balance copyright owners’ rights with internet users’ activities. A compliant notice identifies the copyrighted work and the allegedly infringing material, provides contact information, and includes good-faith and accuracy statements; the accuracy statement is made under penalty of perjury. After receiving a compliant notice, an online service provider must act expeditiously to remove or disable access and notify the uploader. The Copyright Office’s Section 512 resources explain the process.
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Counter-notices and restoration
A user who believes material was removed by mistake or misidentification can submit a counter-notice. The Copyright Office says the provider generally restores access no fewer than 10 and no more than 14 business days after receiving a counter-notice, unless the notice sender informs the provider that a court action has been filed. A takedown notice by itself does not mean the uploader has been sued, and the notice process does not adjudicate whether a particular use infringes.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Can you download the official PS4 SDK?
Sony’s PlayStation 4 Developer Network says the private site is open only to licensed PS4 developers, publishers, and middleware companies. It warns that downloading software without a license constitutes copyright infringement. The official SDK is therefore restricted developer material, not a consumer download. This access information does not establish the contents of the leaked package in detail.
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