Sony under siege by Anonymous

This.

Besides, I don't think users are allowed to (by law) modify a copyright-protected/patented system in any way.

Sony is only enforcing the law. It's like they are shanking you for not letting them steal from the store you own. That's why they will lose this time, they know they aren't big enough to attack the actual government, but they think they are big enough to attack a corporation. The law is behind sony, and it will be enforced.