The legal battle between George “Geohot” Hotz and Sony has taken a somewhat unexpected turn, as US District Judge Susan Illston has granted Sony’s request for a temporary restraining order (TRO). New filings, unearthed today, indicate that the further hearings will remain in California as well.

“The Court has reviewed all of the filed materials, and after consideration of the record and the arguments of counsel, the Court finds that a temporary restraining order is warranted. Plaintiff has submitted substantial evidence showing that defendent George Hotz has violated the Digital Millennium Copyright Act,” reads the filing.

Personal jurisdiction in California was granted despite Hotz’s request to move the case elsewhere as “he purposefully directed his activities at the forum state,” according to the filing.

With 10 days to comply, Hotz has been ordered to send “computers , hard drives, CD-roms, DVDs, USB sticks, and any other storage devices”  that contain circumvention code to an office in Trenton, New Jeresy for impoundment.

You can download the latest batch of documents here.

Thanks PSX-Scene for the tip!

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