It's not available in this country for another four months, but already hackers in America have worked out how to get around the encryption on Sony's Universal Media Discs used for its PSP handheld console.

Developers have figured out a way to bypass the encryption process and extract files from the UMDs even though there is no way to play the games extracted from those discs.

Details were posted on a PlayStation fan site PS2nfo.com, along with lists showing all the files pulled off the game discs for "Ridge Racers," "Wipeout Pure" and "Vampire Chronicles."

The breakthrough has been seen as a step forward for hackers and developers hoping to work out how the PSP games are put together.

The PSP will be available in the UK from the 1 September.

>> Sony - Official website of Sony