After the launch of the controversial PS Jailbreak that allows users to copy PlayStation 3 games, a second hack on the console has been released that is free and claims to violate no laws on software piracy.

Called the PSGroove, the hack is a suite of files loaded onto a USB stick.

The files on the USB stick are free for download and can be modified. The PSGroove cost nearly $100 less than the price of the PS Jailbreak; the USB stick can be purchased for around $30.

The PSGroove allows the installation of unsigned PlayStation 3 programs to the console. This means that amateur coders will be able to copy their own games and apps, which can then be distributed around the Internet without going through the retail channels of the company.

The PSGroove separates itself from the earlier hack by not allowing the use of games ripped from retail discs through a backup manager application.

The open nature of PSGroove files, however, means that programmers can develop the original suite and reinstate the backup manager. Installing games on the PS3 hard drive would mean faster loading times and easier use of the console. Players will no longer need to search through stacks of games and change discs manually.

However, the hack threatens Sony and the console's game developers. With the PSGroove's ability to distribute and install backup copies of games, paying for a new game becomes a moral choice rather than a necessity.

The company is said to be working on a software fix against both Jailbreak and Groove.