It's true that Hotz, better known to the Internet community as "geohot," flew to South America, but he says it was for spring break, not to flee the country. And to prove he will be back, Hotz cheekily wrote on his blog that he has to return to the U.S. at some point to buy the Sony Xperia Play, which will probably launch domestically before heading to South America.
"Apparently, I have fled the country. ROFL," Hotz blogged on Wednesday night.
"Factually, it's true I'm in South America, on a vacation I've had planned and paid for since November. I mean, it is Spring break; hacking isn't my life. Rest assured that not a dime of legal defense money would ever go toward something like this. And of course Townsend loves the idea of painting me as an international fugitive. I have been in contact with my lawyers almost every day; I would not let the case suffer. That said, I also won't let this ridiculous lawsuit run my life either. Then the fearmongerers win.
"I will be back, I hear it's hard to come by the Xperia Play down here."
In January Sony Computer Entertainment of America (SCEA) sued Hotz for posting online the root key of a PlayStation 3, which enables third-party software to work on the console. SCEA contends that this is a direct violation of the Digital Copyright Millenium Act (DCMA) passed in 1998.
Since Hotz' arrest in January the SCEA has also sued "Bushing," Hector Martin Cantero, Sven Peter, and others alleged to be part of the FAIL0VERFLOW group of hackers that contributed to the root key's exposure.
Earlier this week SCEA claimed Hotz had escaped to South America to dodge a judge's order to hand over components of his hard drive. Hotz' next court appearance is scheduled for April 8.
In February, Hotz thanked supporters for donating enough money to cover his ongoing legal fees.