More on Sony's "DRM Rootkit" 608
A couple of days ago we posted a story about Sony DRM installing a rootkit. Since then we have seen many more stories on the subject that I thought were worth sharing.
manno gave us a link to the inquirer and salemnic sent us a page from the washington post. smallfries gave us one from PC Pro.
It's nice to see this story not getting lost in the cracks since the implications are gigantic.
Regardless of where this goes... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Regardless of where this goes... (Score:3, Interesting)
In fact, to a casual reader, it would almost seem as though anything with an acronym such as "Digital Rights Management" would be designed to protect your digital rights. It's entirely misleading.
If all else fails, Sony can always
Re:Regardless of where this goes... (Score:3, Insightful)
Yes it is.
That's the point, it's got a double plus good word in it's title, so it must be good!
For other examples of this: PATRIOT act and "operation [adjective] freedom"... how could ANYONE oppose them without appearing anti-freedom to the uninformed?
Re:Regardless of where this goes... (Score:5, Informative)
Hope this helps!
Maybe Sony Should Print This On Their CD's.... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Maybe Sony Should Print This On Their CD's.... (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Maybe Sony Should Print This On Their CD's.... (Score:3, Funny)
I guess that means that no one from my company will be listening to DRM'd CDs. I don't even let my users have "power user" rights.
-Nick
Hope it catches on (Score:5, Interesting)
Love it. Great phrase. Maybe it'll catch on.
Re:Hope it catches on (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Hope it catches on (Score:3, Interesting)
I would tell Joe Sixpack something like this: "Joe, if you try to play one of these CD's that's got that copy-protection or something else called 'Dee-Are
Re:Hope it catches on (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Hope it catches on (Score:5, Interesting)
"Infected with DRM"
Again, I must state that whenever I clean a computer with Adaware/Spybot/AVG/Panda Activescan/CWShredder/ect, I'm now going to have to ask one more thing:
"Have you bought and played any music CDs lately?"
How sad is it that doing something so legal can become associated with other computer slow-downs as spyware/malware/adware. This is what is going to irk the general public, and hopefully get people to look at DRM a bit more closely.
Re:Hope it catches on (Score:3, Insightful)
Me: That CD's infected with DRM
Friend: What's DRM?
Me: Digital Restrictions Management. SONY has infected that CD so that it will alter the way Windows works so that you can't put that CD onto your iPod or make a copy to use in your car player that eats CD's occasionally.
That might finally get through.
Call to anti-virus makers (Score:3, Interesting)
Hrm... (Score:4, Funny)
*sigh* Silly executives, rape is for kids.
Never fear, Slashdot is here! (Score:5, Funny)
With Slashdot reporting this 10 times a day I doubt it will get lost :)
Re:Never fear, Slashdot is here! (Score:3, Insightful)
Simple Solution: Boycott Sony to Death (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Simple Solution: Boycott Sony to Death (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Simple Solution: Boycott Sony to Death (Score:3, Informative)
Look at the RIAA/MPAA and their correlation of sales/piracy. They'll never link sales could be down because the current music sucks or whatever - it's always the market's fault somehow - piracy, recession, depression, etcetera.
So next time you are tempted to buy a
Not just "Sony" (Score:5, Informative)
Arista Records
BMG
Columbia Records
Epic Records
J Records
Jive Records
LaFace Records
Legacy Recordings
Provident Music Group
RCA Records
RCA Victor Group
RLG - Nashville
Sony
So So Def Records
Verity Records
As a recording engineer / producer I'm against piracy - but I also hate DRM screwing with my machine and making it hard to enjoy the music I purchased in the way I want.
Support indy labels, and write letters to artists you like that are on majors - tell them to move on to an indy label or start their own.
And if you're really mad (as I am) boycott all of Sony. While Sony music walks to its own drummer, the parent company can't be loving the bad publicity.
I stopped buying all Sony products (including the pro gear I use as an audio engineer) when they initially started their annoying DRM. It is easy to break, but makes normal use of the CD harder.
My Letter to Sony (Score:5, Interesting)
Hello.
I have just learned about the malware that Sony has started to add to "compact disks" (in quotes, because Sony breaks the CD standard) via poorly-written DRM software from First4Internet. It is simply unconscionable that Sony would resort to such unethical lengths to prevent the pirating of a software. In fact, criminal trespass comes to mind, given that the software differs from what is described in the EULA and non-removable.
I'm outraged at this behavior demonstrated by Sony, and I can assure you that I am no longer a Sony customer. In short, although I am a computer enthusiast/technologist who builds his own systems and enjoys gaming, and although I am a scientist who uses high-end computing resources on a daily basis, I won't be purchasing any of the following from Sony in the next few years:
1) Stereos and portable audio equipment
2) Flat screen televisions, plasma TV's, etc
3) High-end computer LCD monitors
4) Laptop computers
5) Computer CD and DVD drives
6) Sony-branded CD, DVD, and floppy disk media
7) PlayStation 2 or 3
8) PlayStation Games
9) PlayStation Portable
and needless to say,
10) Sony and BMG music.
If you break standards on DVD equipment, add Sony and Columbia TriStar movies to that list.
Thank you for making my future purchase decisions so much easier.
Sincerely,
****
Re:Simple Solution: Boycott Sony to Death (Score:3, Funny)
SD is an abbreviation for Secure Digital. The remaining irony is left as an excercise to the reader.
Let us hope: (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Let us hope: (Score:5, Informative)
From TFA:
Hypponen said the only way to uninstall the program in the conventional sense (without running the risk of hosing your system or CD-ROM drive) is to contact Sony BMG directly via a Web form and request removal.
At that point, a real, live person will call you back and ask for all kinds of information about your system, and your reason for wanting to remove the software. You're then directed to a Web page that downloads an ActiveX program (yes, you must be using Microsoft's Internet Explorer to do this), which determines what version is installed and reports that back to First4Internet. Then you get an e-mail containing a link to another site that downloads something that finally uninstalls the Sony program.
So, although they make you sell your firstborn to get it, they apparently do offer an uninstaller. IANAL, but maybe someone can still argue that the uninstaller needs to be bundled with the CD. Sony might also be liable if the installation damages your computer.
The Solution is Simple Folks! (Score:4, Insightful)
Me, I think I'll just pirate all my music from now on. That way I don't have to worry about any of this DRM nonsense!
First4Internet (Score:5, Informative)
They're based in Banbury, Oxford and their CEO is Mathew Gilliant-Smith DBC.
6 South Bar Street
Banbury
Oxfordshire
OX16 9AA
United Kingdom
All info (and more) available on their website here http://www.first4internet.com/contact.aspx/ [first4internet.com]
That's about 20 minutes in the car for me, should I go pay them a visit - taking the best wishes of the
Re:First4Internet (Score:5, Funny)
Re:First4Internet (Score:4, Funny)
lovely idea, though.
Re:First4Internet (Score:5, Funny)
Re:First4Internet (Score:4, Interesting)
Demand compensation (for petrol to get there), the money to fix it and if they refuse tell them you'll take them to court for the damages (claim the box was used for something important like hosting websites and the rootkit has not passed some safety tests that all servers must pass at your company).
Aww the fun of being a sick little geek
Contains LAME code? (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Contains LAME code? (Score:5, Insightful)
Who'll follow up on this thread? I'm sure we can find enough free-as-in-freedom warriors to do a tech analysis on the software and confirm the report in parent comment? C'mon, hoisting retards [sonymusic.com] on their own petards [wiktionary.org] is just too much fun!
Re:Contains LAME code? (Score:3, Informative)
Offtopic: Ya know, I don't have an actual CD player suitable for playing the CDs I buy. I absolutely cannot keep the original discs in my car, as they only last a few months getting shuffled around. Hell, they take a beating just being in my car, in a CD carrying case. Other than while driving, I listen to music while working, in several
Yes, this is bad (Score:5, Informative)
On a related note: World of Warcraft hackers are now using Sony's DRM rootkit to hide from "the Warden" [wowsharp.net]. I tried to submit this as a standalone story, but since I saw this DRM news update, I figured I'd post it here.
Is Sony aiding and abetting cheaters?
Re:Yes, this is bad (Score:3, Funny)
Doesn't Sony Entertainment develope (and produce) Everquest? Heh... I wonder what the media could do with THIS...
"Sony using rootkit to ruin WoW"
Re:Yes, this is bad (Score:5, Interesting)
Something that they tried to HIDE on people's computers to RESTRICT them. People are now abusing it against Blizzard. Blizzard has 'just cause' to start a lawsuit.
Re:Yes, this is bad (Score:3, Interesting)
Not in Europe? (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Not in Europe? (Score:3, Informative)
I only have a few old crippled CDs, and I don't buy any new ones, so I can't tell if the rootkit is on anyone of them.
However, the Swedish Sony exec is blatantly lying in the article when he claims that Sony won't release any copy-controlled CDs until the protection works well for both the customers
Deal with the devil... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Deal with the devil... (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Deal with the devil... (Score:3, Interesting)
Sony is losing it (Score:5, Interesting)
I guess I'll send them a sharply worded letter first, but I really don't see any way that I can do any business with a company like this. Not even as a shareholder.
yes, but is it Mac compatible? (Score:5, Funny)
Look at Sony's FAQ,
http://cp.sonybmg.com/xcp/english/faq.html#listen
The protected CD looses all features and appears as a normal CD on a Macintosh. This really sucks!
Im switching to Windows!
Is this necessarily legal? (Score:5, Interesting)
The security industry (Score:4, Insightful)
A wild conspiracy theory: (Score:3, Interesting)
Stick that music CD into my computer? No you don't, I'll become infected with malware.
Yes, perhaps it's as the subject suggests, a wild conspiracy theory. It's not as though this industry wanted to create laws to legalize hacking P2P users or anything.
Re:A wild conspiracy theory: (Score:4, Insightful)
I'd bet they simply did not understand the implications of their "copy protection".
Or maybe they knew and did not expect it to make much waves.
But I don't think Sony management wanted the kind of publicity they have now.
Sony should immediately recall all XCP'd CDs (Score:3, Informative)
How to beat this... (Score:4, Interesting)
Emphasis is mine. Anyways, nothing is the EULA says that I can't just go and delete it. Sure, it may reinstall, but can't we delete it the minute we eject the CD? Can we write a script to do that?
Re:How to beat this... (Score:5, Informative)
Anyways, nothing is the EULA says that I can't just go and delete it.
Except that, if you read through Mark Russinovich's blog [sysinternals.com], you'll see that it cripples your system when you do this.
He goes on to detail the steps that were necessary to bring his computer back to fully-functional condition. It's not for Joe Q. Public.
Anti-PC (Score:3, Interesting)
So messing with your PC looks like a good thing to do for Sony (especially since it also f*cks with MS).
H.R. 2929 (Score:5, Interesting)
(4) inducing the user to install a computer software component onto the computer or preventing efforts to block installation of a software component;
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:h.r.
If they used racketeering laws to go after the RIAA, why not antispyware legislation against this?
Fix for the problem (Score:5, Informative)
I'm posting this via a proxy just in case Sony doesn't like what I post...
After reading this news story I decided to go after this software and defeat it, and I did.
The following is how you kill this hidden install. I did this in Windows XP Pro, so attempt on another OS at your discretion. This will require Administrator rights. Please read through the entire instruction set, and if you don't feel comfortable attempting this, then don't. The rest of you, follow me
1. hit windowsKey+R to open the RUN command. Type services.msc to run the services dialog. Find 'Plug and Play Device Manager' in the list, right click and choose Properties. Under the General tab of the box that comes up, in the middle there should be the "startup type" of the service. Set this value to "disabled" and click OK. Next find the service named 'XCP CD Proxy' and set its startup type to disabled as well. You won't be able to stop these services, only disable them from starting next time Windows starts.
2. Download and run the latest Blacklight beta from http://www.f-secure.com/blacklight/ [f-secure.com] This program will find the 'super hidden' CD proxy files we're trying to get rid of. When it finishes searching click next until you reach the screen that shows you all the hidden files it found. Select all these files and click the "rename" button to the right. Windows will restart once you click OK, and the files will be renamed.
3. Once Windows restarts you will have lost any and all CD/DVD drives. DON'T PANIC! Hit windowsKey+Pause/Break to open up your System dialog. Click on the Hardware tab, then on the "Device Manager" button. Your system will not list any CD/DVD drives, but you should see IDE slot(s) that have little yellow circles with exclamation points over them indicating a device with a problem. In order to restore the drivers to their un-sony-altered state you must right click on the affected device and choose "uninstall driver". Do this for each device with a problem.
4. Now that you have uninstalled the affected drivers, simply navigate to your Control Panel via the Start Menu and choose "Add Hardware". The add hardware wizard will run and find your previously disabled devices. Your drives are now restored and functional, and this potentially dangerous menace vanquished.
5. Advanced users may now go and clean up the mess, but this step is not necessary. Delete renamed files, and dare I say it, registry keys that pertain to Sony's program. Use this list for reference: http://www.europe.f-secure.com/v-descs/xcp_drm.sh
As an added note, once I got my drives back up and running, I popped in the CD that put this program on my computer. I was able to use a multi-session aware program (Roxio) to access the audio portion of the disk and rip MP3s to my hard drive where they will now be listened to in my preferred player the way God intended it to be. Oh, and the only illegal thing that went on here was what Sony did!
CONSUMER 1 - SONY 0
P.S. Once you rip MP3s from your Sony disc, burn it the old fashioned way, with gasoline and a match!
Other affected CDs (Score:4, Interesting)
I'm starting to think it'd be worthwhile to create a domain policy to prevent this malware from running on any of our network machines....
List of affected CDs? (Score:4, Interesting)
Let them know how you feel.... (Score:3, Informative)
Boycotts are worthless... (Score:5, Insightful)
... for stuff like this. If you care enough to REALLY do something about it, there are really only two things to do:
Intentionally or otherwise, what the program is exploiting a flaw in a popular operating system in a way that not only enables them to control access to the data on the CD -- which itself is illegal, but fat chance the government will help you with that -- but it in so doing opens up the machine to facile infection with illicit software which it will then actively cover up and make detectable only to very knowledgable users. If DHS is serious about cyber terrorism, they shouldn't be letting companies subvert the already weak security of the predominant operating system and prime them for becoming unwitting pawns in terrorist activity.
Make a simple flyer explaining what's happened and the implications and see if local record stores would be amenable to helping out. This could be as little as having them stuff an info packet in their bags, to leaving a stack of Live Linux CDs that do nothing but permit a user to duplicate a CD to CD-R without the offending software, or even have a "SafeDupe" day where a few people setup a table where purchasers can show proof of purchase and bring a blank CD to have it "SafeDuped" for them. Obviously, most record stores won't want to rock the boat, but a well-spoken and sincere person (armed with copies of coverage from the mainstream media talking about the problem) ought to be able to find at least one or two store managers with an ethical streak.
It's perfectly legal to make such copies, and if you don't believe me, ask a lawyer or download the Bern Convention on Copyright and read it yourself.
And remember kids, calm, cool, and collected. No name calling, no vitriole. Attribute not malice where stupidty is explanation enough, etc. And do make sure that whatever you do is entirely on the up-and-up, transparent to everyone involved, and that the press and SonyMusic are well informed on the subject.
Lnux version? (Score:5, Funny)
Sony in violation of DMCA? (Score:5, Interesting)
One nasty idea (Score:5, Insightful)
Buy something from Sony, like PS2 or a camera, and then return it the day after. AFAIK, return items go pretty high up in the supply chain. Tell why you are returning it.
Any problems with this?
Here's the address of the guy to write to at Sony: (Score:3, Informative)
President, Global Digital Business
Sony BMG Music Entertainment Company
550 Madison Ave.
New York, NY 10022-3211
I wrote this guy last summer after reading a piece in the New York Times featuring him discussing Sony's oh-so-wunnerful SunnComm copy protection. I can't locate the original NYT article, but this one [timesleader.com] says almost exactly the same thing.
I didn't receive a reply. I thought I stood a good chance of receiving one since I couched my language in civil terms and didn't call him a pig fucker. So, see what works for you.
Re:Here's the address of the guy to write to at So (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Sue (Score:3, Interesting)
On Mark Russinovich's Blog, at least one guy claimed to be a lawyer and he asked California residents who were affected to contact him about a lawsuit.
Re:Sue (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Sue (Score:5, Informative)
It is not stated in the EULA that this rootkit will be installed, plus there's no way to uninstall it through add.remove programs
Re:Sue (Score:5, Informative)
Umm, nice to see that you didn't read the EULA either.
Re:Sue (Score:5, Interesting)
If you can manage to find the hidden software files and do delete tehm as suggested in the EULA, you will no longer be able to access your CD drive.
Funny how no mention of those points are made in the agreement.
Re:Let us /. Sony (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Sue (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Sue (Score:5, Funny)
Additional items from the EULA:
Re:Sue (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Sue (Score:5, Informative)
I assume that you were trying to somehow infer that I didn't read the EULA [sysinternals.com]? Well, I did, but I'll post the important part of it here because it's fairly apparent that you did not, or at least didn't fully comprehend what it said:
As soon as you have agreed to be bound by the terms and conditions of the EULA, this CD will automatically install a small proprietary software program (the "SOFTWARE") onto YOUR COMPUTER. The SOFTWARE is intended to protect the audio files embodied on the CD, and it may also facilitate your use of the DIGITAL CONTENT. Once installed, the SOFTWARE will reside on YOUR COMPUTER until removed or deleted. However, the SOFTWARE will not be used at any time to collect any personal information from you, whether stored on YOUR COMPUTER or otherwise.
See that part about "the SOFTWARE will reside on YOUR COMPUTER until removed or deleted"? That's what people agree to when they click "I agree" on the EULA screen.
As far as being able to uninstall it via "add/remove programs", I wasn't aware that this made software dismissable via legal grounds. I thought it just meant that you could proudly wear the "Made for Microsoft Windows" on your retail box.
... until removed or deleted. (Score:5, Insightful)
So, technically they are in the clear (in the same way that they would be in the clear if they said "the SOFTWARE will reside on YOUR COMPUTER until pigs grow wings"), but what they are doing is still morally very wrong...
As far as being able to uninstall it via "add/remove programs", I wasn't aware that this made software dismissable via legal grounds.
It's just not a matter of failing to supply some user-friendly functionality to make it extra easy to uninstall.
Such functionality might take time to develop, and so a case could be made that the developper just didn't feal it worthwhile to spend the effort...
But in this case, the developers went out of their way to make it extra difficult to detect, let alone remove, their software. Even without Add/remove functionality, you could still remove the files and registry keys manually, if the software was just sloppy, rather than malicious. But in the present case, the software's files and reg keys are hidden, so you can't just remove them. And if you do find the trick how to de-activate the rootkit, removing the resources will break the OS if not done properly (disabled CD driver), meaning that for a normal user the only alternative is to reinstall the OS. Not nice!
Re:... until removed or deleted. (Score:3, Funny)
You can have a Sony rep contact you and they will help you remove it. Sounds like good service to them.
but what they are doing is still morally very wrong...
I don't see what this has to do with the discussion at hand. Yes, we all know that corporations have little or negative morals. The beginning point of this thread was whether or not Sony could be chased down legally for this install. I
Re:... until removed or deleted. (Score:5, Insightful)
The SOFTWARE is designed to hide itself, alters the functionality of the machine to the detriment of its performance and can cause it to malfunction(prevent CD/DVD readers/writers from working properly), opens up the machine to further attack, and finally reduces the stability of the machine. The EULA, which you cited, is intentionally vague and misleading, and certainly does not absolve Sony of responsibility for the above problems caused by their SOFTWARE. Also, just because it's in the EULA, sorta(!), does not make it legal. Sony is clearly being deceptive with these products and their EULA, and there are laws on the books to protect consumers from such action.
Furthermore, it is not a safe bet to assume an EULA is a binding contract, there is precedent both ways on this, it depends on the EULA and the judge's opinion, and there are all kinds of laws regarding contract validity.
Re:... until removed or deleted. (Score:3, Interesting)
The DMCA is deceptive and vague but yet it still stands. Welcome to law.
Furthermore, it is not a safe bet to assume an EULA is a bind
Re:... until removed or deleted. (Score:3, Informative)
I think the bnetd case [eff.org] pretty much gives software publishers carte-blanche in restricting what you can do. They held that (1) the EULA was enforceable (2) it removes the consumers rights granted by copyright and DMCA laws (3) The UCC covers the transaction because the software is goods sold (4) the software is licensed, not sold, because the EULA says so.
In short - EULAs are enforceable, even when they are wordy, vague, and c
Re:... until removed or deleted. (Score:3, Informative)
http://updates.xcp-aurora.com/unsupported.aspx [xcp-aurora.com]
Sigh.
Never forget... (Score:4, Interesting)
In the good ol' USofA, there is no technically clear in civil litigation. All you have to prove is something as simple as your reasonable expectations. Doesn't matter what the EULA says or if they did anything illegal.
IANAL, but it is my impression that in the eyes of the US courts, you not only have to follow the letter of the law, but you have to ensure that you are conveying a reasonable perception about what your product does. That fine print means nothing if the court finds it too difficult to read, or makes unfair claims (ie - By installing this, you transfer ownership of your computer to us... which is what a rootkit comes closest to without physical possession.)
Civil cases aren't really about the law. They're about damages, and a propoderance of evidence (more than 50% in your favor... a lot less than the reasonable doubt standard of a criminal trial). It may not be against the law for you to spraypaint your trees pink. But if I'm your neighbor and plan on selling my home, I have every right to sue you for damaging the property value of my home. Getting a few other neighbors to testify, and it'll win just on proponderance of evidence.
IMHO, I'd sue the hell out of Sony in a class action lawsuit. Look at it this way: you may not win a lot of money each, but it'll probably be enough to repurchase that CD and a few others with no DRM.
Re:Sue (Score:5, Informative)
You can contact Sony directly [sonybmg.com] and they will send you tools to remove the DRM software.
The F-Secure blog [f-secure.com] talks a little about this. It appears their removal software installs ActiveX controls.. just really messed up.
but Sony says it's not malware (Score:3, Insightful)
6. I have heard that the protection software is really malware/spyware. Could this be true?
Of course not. The protection software simply acts to prevent unlimited copying and ripping from discs featuring this protection solution. It is otherwise inactive. The software does not collect any personal information nor is it designed to be intrusive to your computer system.
Also, the protection components are never installed without the consumer first accepting the End User License
Re:Sue (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Sue (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Sue (Score:4, Insightful)
I think the issue here is that Sony does not tell you that they are installing the software ANYWHERE. In addition to them adding the software without your permission, its software that can create a "safe haven for viruses" (the software makes everything that has "$SYS$" in the filename turn invisible), according to the PcPro writeup.
Grounds for suit (Score:4, Insightful)
Of course, IANAL, IAAEE.
Re:Grounds for suit (Score:3, Funny)
Actually, I wonder if the RICO act applies, particularly if this was done in collusion with the RIAA- it sure seems like collusion, and the uninstall process described above seems like extortion.
Re:Sue (Score:5, Interesting)
The other day, I was driving with my fiance when we got on the topic of cd's. She proceeded to tell me that there's this great cd that I need to get because the band is really good. I proceeded to tell her that I haven't purchased a cd for almost 4 years now because of my dislike for the RIAA. After explaining everything to her, she just got all flustered and said that she didn't care about all that crap. She didn't care that even though she paid for the cd, she didn't fully own. She didn't care about all the bully tactics the RIAA uses. She didn't care about any of that, she just wanted the music.
I agree with you that the majority of the people just dont care. As much as I try and inform people of all the crap the RIAA pulls, it just goes in one ear and out the other.
For now, I suppose I'll just continue on with my silent protest.
Re:Sue (Score:5, Funny)
Functions as normal audio CD on Macs (Score:3, Interesting)
Nothing. It looks and functions as a normal audio CD on a Mac.
Under Windows, yes it will prevent iTunes from ripping it and putting the music on your iPod. Several bands (and I believe even Sony) have instructions for copying music onto the iPod using Windows and they generally involve burning the included WMA files of
Re:Sue (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:I don't understand the fuss. (Score:5, Informative)
It's not a Windows-specific problem, it's just that Sony has only implemented it for windows.
Re:I don't understand the fuss. (Score:5, Funny)
That's because you are an idiot. No, really.
There's more than one law here. (Score:3, Informative)
On the one hand, it's perfectly legal for me to play that CD on my laptop without running that software. Even assuming a clickthrough license is valid, I can simply refuse to accept that license, refuse to install the software, and treat it as an ordinary audio CD. If I'm not running Windows on my laptop, in fact, I don't even have an opportunity to use their spyware-enhancer.
On the other hand, even if it WAS a legal requirement, an
Re:Russinovich's Take (Score:3, Informative)
Except that he put a link to a form, and not to a way to get rid of it. Looking further into the sony website the code used seems to originate from http://www.xcp-aurora.com/ [xcp-aurora.com] . Maybe that is the root of all problems.
Sue Sony -> Sony sue Aurora -> Lawyers will get rich and happy.
Re:Russinovich's Take (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Russinovich's Take (Score:5, Funny)
- complain to editors about posting dupes
- editors start to link to their previous stories
- posters visit those previous stories, and copy links FROM THE previous FREAKING ARTICLE itself [slashdot.org]
- ???
- profit!!
How does this stuff get modded up?Re:Russinovich's Take (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Dupe(s): with a purpose. (Score:5, Insightful)
No seriously, I agree. Sony's inconceivably bad behavior has to be dragged, squealing and flailing, into the sunlight where it can be properly stomped to gory death with hobnailed boots. No mercy, no PR coverup, no plausible deniability. Corps have to understand, with visceral fear-of-agonizing-death understanding, that this kind of crap will not ever be tolerated. This is a trend which must be stopped cold dead. These shenanigans have to be punished with such finality that any observer centuries from now will intuitively know the immediate and unalterable consequences of this kind of crap.