Sony...you very bad! bad! Bad! BAD!

[Tiger Shark]

Here you go..... Gouge them like they have been gouging you on CD proces for so long

click me

[J4NK]

Don't mess with Texas

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051121/...opy_protection

AUSTIN, Texas - The state sued Sony BMG Music Entertainment on Monday under its new anti-spyware law, saying anti-piracy technology the company slipped into music CDs leaves huge security holes on consumers' computers.

The lawsuit is over the so-called XCP technology that Sony had added to more than 50 CDs to restrict to three the number of times a single disc could be copied.

After a storm of criticism, Sony recalled the discs last week.

To enforce the restrictions, the CD automatically installed the copy-protection program when discs were put into a PC — a necessary step for transferring music to iPods and other portable music players.

Attorney General Greg Abbott accused Sony BMG of surreptitiously installing "spyware" in the form of files that mask other files Sony installed as part of XCP.

This "cloaking" component can leave computers vulnerable to viruses and other security problems, said Abbot, echoing the findings of computer security researchers.

"Sony has engaged in a technological version of cloak-and-dagger deceit against consumers by hiding secret files on their computers," Abbott said in a statement.

The term "spyware" has been used broadly to cover programs that are installed without users' full knowledge and consent, whether or not they actually spy on a user's activities.

A Sony BMG spokesman didn't immediately return a call Monday morning.

Sony BMG initially rejected the uproar over XCP as technobabble.

But after security experts discovered that XCP opened gaping security holes in users' computers — as did the method Sony BMG offered for removing XCP — Sony BMG agreed last week to recall the discs.

Some 4.7 million had been made and 2.1 million sold. CDs that had XCP included releases by Van Zant, The Bad Plus, Neil Diamond and Celine Dion.

Abbott said some CDs remained in Texas stores as of Monday morning.

The Texas spyware law allows the state to recover damages of up to $100,000 in damages for each violation.

Abbott said there were thousands of violations, and that any money would go to the state.

[morganlefay]

Just found this.....

http://informationweek.com/story/sho...leID=174400748

With a small bit of tape on the outer edge of the CD, the PC then treats the disc as an ordinary single-session music CD and the commonly used music 'rip' programs continue to work as usual.

I wonder if that works with my new emi cd

MLF

[rapier57]

MLF: It would probably just be easier to get the replacement from SONY, if it is that brand. Or, turn off autoplay or Just Say No, to anything that pops up. I can just imaging the lengths that the "research firm" went to to defeat the DRM.

as for J4NK: all my eX's ...

Washington has the same type of spyware law. Problem is, it doesn't specify who can initiate prosecution. They musta messed up the cut and paste again like they did on the disclosure law. By the time they figure that one out, SONY will be history.

[ttau]

"Abbott said there were thousands of violations, and that any money would go to the state."

Interesting, the people get hosed, The State gets any money awarded for damages. Gotta love lawyers and politicians.

[guardian alpha]

I wonder if that works with my new emi cd

Holding down shift while inserting the CD or merely turning off autoload will also disable the CD protection device, as the first data track will not be able to load without you directly loading it and thus allowing you to choose only the music tracks on the CD.

Meaning, of course, Linux is immune.

[xierox]

The easiest way I find to disable Autorun permanently is to just download Microsoft's TweakUI. Open it up when installed, click My Computer -> AutoRun -> Drives -> Uncheck all the drive letters you want to disable autorun on.

- Xierox

[Nelson]

When it rains, it poors! Sony can't seem to do anything right. Even local Walmart stores are pinning things on Sony. I purchased a Sony DVD player from Walmart, and I removed it from the box, and it was a JVC player. To make it even better, I soon realized that my new Sony/JVC DVD player came equipt with a burned copy of Anal Vixens. My 4 year old son now wants to know why the dudes pee pee was in that chicks ars. When I confronted the manager of Walmart he insisted that Sony placed the JVC player in the box with my complementry movie. I guess the porn didn't have DRM loaded.

[JewishIntent]

Wow thats one HUGE case of negligence, do i smell a lawsuit?

[genXer]

Hello all-

Quick update from USA Today on Sony, the fun they are having and how consumers appreciate the company. Whoops... forgot to declare my sarcasm :

Link: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/co...-cd-flap_x.htm

I love this line too:

"I could write the uninstall program in one day," says Mark Russinovich, the blogger who first brought the world's attention to the problem CDs.

Oh yeah? I bet I could write that uninstall program in 5 notes, I mean half-a-day! Full QA and everything...heh.