Sony officially announced today that PlayStation 3 systems that breach its guidelines will be banned from the PlayStation Network, in an effort to protect its business. "Unauthorized circumvention devices for the PlayStation 3 system have been recently released by hackers. These devices permit the use of unauthorized or pirated software. Use of such devices or software violates the terms of the 'System Software License Agreement for the PlayStation 3 System? and the ?Terms of Services and User Agreement' for the PlayStation Network/Qriocity and its Community Code of Conduct provisions. Violation of the System Software Licence Agreement for the PlayStation 3 System invalidates the consumer guarantee for that system. In addition, copying or playing pirated software is a violation of International Copyright Laws. Consumers using circumvention devices or running unauthorized or pirated software will have access to the PlayStation Network and access to Qriocity services through PlayStation 3 system terminated permanently," Sony said in a statament.

To avoid this, Sony suggests PS3 users to cease use and remove all circumvention devices and delete all unauthorized or pirated software from their PlayStation 3 systems.

"By identifying PlayStation 3 systems that breach our guidelines and terminating their ability to connect to PlayStation Network, we are protecting our business and preserving the honest gameplay experiences that you expect and deserve," Jeff Rubenstein, PS Social Media Manager wrote at teh company's blog.

This means that users who are running custom firmware, or have an open PlayStation 3, may want to stay offline for a while.