Slashdot Log In
Sony, Amazon Detail Rootkit CD Buybacks
Posted by
Zonk
on Fri Nov 18, 2005 06:23 PM
from the finally-some-customer-service dept.
from the finally-some-customer-service dept.
An anonymous reader writes "Washingtonpost.com is reporting that Sony BMG today detailed a program that should allow customers who bought one of the 52 titles known to be tainted with the company's deeply flawed anti-piracy software to exchange them for CDs of the same title, sans rootkit of course. Oddly enough, Sony is offering those who want to return the CDs the chance to download MP3 versions of the discs, but only after Sony has received the returned discs. Amazon.com also is sending out e-mails to customers who bought the discs, offering to replace or refund them at no cost."
Related Stories
[+]
Sony Rootkit Settlement Gets Judge's Approval 187 comments
Lewis Clarke wrote to mention a ZDNet story about Monday's final approval of the rootkit settlement in the case brought against Sony BMG Music. From the article: "The agreement covers anyone who bought, received or used CDs containing what was revealed to be flawed digital rights management (DRM) software after Aug. 1, 2003. Those customers can file a claim and receive certain benefits, such as a nonprotected replacement CD, free downloads of music from that CD and additional cash payments ... At least 15 different lawsuits were filed by class action lawyers against the record label, and the New York cases were eventually consolidated into one proceeding. The parties reached a preliminary settlement with Sony BMG in December, leaving it up to a judge in a U.S. District Court in New York to make it official. "
This discussion has been archived.
No new comments can be posted.
Sony, Amazon Detail Rootkit CD Buybacks
|
Log In/Create an Account
| Top
| 240 comments
| Search Discussion
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
Download mp3s of the albums - Watermarking Test? (Score:5, Insightful)
Sony and Satan (Score:5, Insightful)
(Last Journal: Tuesday March 13 2007, @02:39PM)
"I don't want any ordinary DRM!"
So he called his boys at Sony Corp,
"I'll make this fast and I'll make it short."
"There's a Limey company, as evil as hell,
They've got a rootkit they're waiting to sell.
So grab some cash, make it quick,
There's a half million networks we just gotta fix."
Now Sony knew the Devil well,
Why these guys were already half way to Hell.
So off they went to England fair,
And bought themselves a rootkit there.
To protect themselves and their evil scheme,
They wrote a EULA that would make you scream.
"No problem," they said, "we can do as we please,
We're all scummy bastards, so what's some more sleaze?"
But not all were asleep when they played Van Zant,
And the racket grew so loud Sony just had to recant.
"We'll take back all those discs, we really were wrong,
Oh, and you Mac users, your turn's coming before long."
Sans (Score:2)
sans rootkit of course.
Are you sure or are you just giving them the benefit of the doubt?
Re:Sans (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Sans (Score:5, Insightful)
If you obtain regular security updates from a major anti-virus service, you should receive an update through that process. You may also download the update yourself from http://cp.sonybmg.com/xcp/english/updates.html [sonybmg.com].
The update its talking about simply removes the rootkit, but does not remove the copy protection portion.
Therefore, I believe these disks will still be executable in format (besides, any with images/videos on will need the media player software as well...)
Just read the home page on the sony site, they still don't get it:
Going forward, we will continue to identify new ways to meet demands for flexibility in how you and other consumers listen to music.
We just want true cds without any bullshit, plain and simple.
Re:Sans (Score:4, Informative)
(http://anticirc.coconia.net/)
No Cash? (Score:2, Insightful)
(http://www.gtalkprofile.com/profile/2.html | Last Journal: Thursday September 15 2005, @08:54AM)
Re:No Cash? (Score:4, Insightful)
(http://www.lbcpc.com/ | Last Journal: Wednesday November 12 2003, @05:30PM)
How many people bought them at WalMart, Best Buy, Circuit City, Warehouse, etc...? Are they able to get a refund?
MP3 files (Score:5, Interesting)
(http://2130706433/ | Last Journal: Thursday July 19, @10:29AM)
That said, what bitrate, frequency and codec is used for the MP3s?
Regards,
--
*Art
Re:MP3 files (Score:5, Funny)
although you can bet they'll be DRMed too.
Lawsuits? (Score:4, Insightful)
I am INCREDIBLY offended by Sony's actions (Score:4, Interesting)
(Last Journal: Thursday November 24 2005, @11:21AM)
I have owned dozens of Sony CDs.
I have 6 Sony audio components.
I will NEVER buy another Sony product ever again, and I urge ALL of you to do the same.
Re:I am INCREDIBLY offended by Sony's actions (Score:5, Insightful)
(http://2130706433/ | Last Journal: Thursday July 19, @10:29AM)
Keep in mind that this is Sony/BMG, where Sony only owns 50%, and where BMG were the ones who brought DRM into the picture. Sony on the other hand is selling MP3 players and Vaio PCs with bundled ripping-hadware/software.
Anyhow, heads *should* roll over this in Sony. Instead I fear they will just sue First4Internet and pretend that ignorance is acceptable.
Regards,
--
*Art
Re:I am INCREDIBLY offended by Sony's actions (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:I am INCREDIBLY offended by Sony's actions (Score:5, Informative)
(http://2130706433/ | Last Journal: Thursday July 19, @10:29AM)
Easy enough to google for. One recent entry [usatoday.com].
Regards,
--
*Art
Re:I am INCREDIBLY offended by Sony's actions (Score:5, Interesting)
Is that so?
Sony pulled the same crap [newscientist.com] with Celine Dion's album A New Day Has Come in 2002 using their key2audio DRM--the scheme that could be defeated with a felt-tip marker.
As far as I'm concerned, there should have been the same degree of outrage then as there is now.
T3h 3v1L!!!!!!!111 (Score:5, Funny)
Turn of the tide? (Score:5, Interesting)
It'd be great if Amazon and other big vendors refused to carry discs with this sort of horrible DRM. That'd probably get the music company's attention a little better than a few geeks organizing a boycott.
Updates (Score:5, Insightful)
(Last Journal: Tuesday May 01 2007, @04:06PM)
Why does Sony not simply provide an update for their rootkit? Improved security, expanded DRM, and distinguished keylogging, get it all now with Sony's rootkit 2.0. New and improved.
Always at your service
sincerely yours, Sony.
Refund them at no cost, eh? (Score:3)
offering to replace or refund them at no cost
what about uninstall? (Score:3, Insightful)
what about.. (Score:5, Insightful)
(mailto:ltwally@softhome.net | Last Journal: Tuesday March 04 2003, @07:48PM)
law-suits do work (Score:2)
(http://www.defectivebydesign.org/)
Hmm (Score:3, Funny)
(http://www.rabbitears.info/)
Step 2: Return to Sony.
Step 3: Download free MP3s.
Step 4: ???
Step 5: PROFIT!
MP3 poisoning howto (Score:5, Informative)
(Last Journal: Monday September 25 2006, @01:19PM)
Merely a slap on the wrist, but the future is bad (Score:5, Interesting)
If Sony actually would own up to their stupid mistake, the artists wouldn't be impacted so much. Look at Van Dant's CD on Amazon. 1.5 stars, 300 reviews, most mentioning the rootkit. Do you think that he'll fare so well in the future.
I have lost faith in Sony. Propietary formats and other things were a little odd, but I accepted them. But rootkits, a patent for games that only play on the console they were originally put in...seems like a ridiculous infringement on user rights.
Rather than losing money to pirates, people will turn to better solutions and Sony will be the loser.
Re:Merely a slap on the wrist, but the future is b (Score:4, Insightful)
Whew... (Score:3, Funny)
(Last Journal: Monday May 08 2006, @10:06AM)
WHAT??? (Score:2, Funny)
(Last Journal: Thursday February 10 2005, @11:01AM)
Who would buy these? (Score:3, Interesting)
(http://www.goelephant.com/)
Who in their right mind would subject themselves to such torture. And, what's more, someone paid for the privlege.
number 7: "Billy Holiday"? (Score:3, Informative)
Unbelieveable. They could have at least looked at the CD cover.
Sony. Where do you want to go today? (Score:4, Insightful)
(Last Journal: Sunday November 04, @03:38AM)
No no no! They got it all wrong. They should do what my friend's landlord did when he kept complaining that the dishwasher didn't work: They came, turned it on, and when it made noise, they said, "It works fine." And of course, it didn't: First, it smelled disgusting in there, like there was rotten food inside the machine. Second, just because it sprayed (dirty smelling) water doesn't mean it "works fine." Third, if you put a dish in there that was clean to begin with, it came out dirty. And I believe that such a dishwasher makes a perfect analogy for compact discs that contain defective software.
So what Sony should do is this: They should publicly offer customers who bought one of the flawed CDs to exchange them for identical ones! As if we're talking about workmanship in the production of the compact disc proper and not the contents. Hey, just act like you don't know a darn thing about technology when it comes to this type of thing! And when the customer complains that the replacement still contains the rootkit, just say, "It works fine."
Sony. Where do you want to go today? (Hell, they almost make Microsoft look good in comparison. Almost.)
I spent 5 hours trying to get rid of this Rootkit (Score:5, Insightful)
Ahoy! (Score:3, Funny)
Too late ya bastards, I already ripped me music off ye DRM'd cd. Yarrr!
Hmm... (Score:1, Insightful)
Yay Amazon
Nay Sony
Where's the root? (Score:1)
Seems to me they are afraid... (Score:3, Interesting)
Covers XCP, but what about MediaMax? (Score:3, Interesting)
Pacifying me with mp3's not good enough... (Score:1)
Pete Seeger???! (Score:2)
(http://www.threesquirrels.com/)
They applied DRM to a disc by Pete Seeger [harvardsquarelibrary.org]?
Man, I don't know where to begin with THAT one!
Who keeps changing your mind? (Score:3, Informative)
Ah, the irony (Score:2, Interesting)
(http://www.dylanpowell.net/)
I really wanted to buy the NW-A3000 [engadget.com] MP3 player when it's released here (everyone and their mom has an iPod... literally). iPods are nice and all, but I'd like something a bit different. Now that I don't know if I can trust Sony, where am I to turn? That thing was so cool looking too.
What about compensation for damages? (Score:2, Insightful)
Getting your money back is not enough.
I don't doubt that sony will try this again only they will dump money in so it isn't a half assed rootkit. They will make sure the EULA covers all actions and potential damages. A court ruling sets precedent and will deter future attempts. Accept the payoff and you're only taking a step closer to the confined world of DRM.The bad press sony is feeling is not enough
Sony Sucks (Score:3, Insightful)
(http://www.parkselectronics.com/)
MP3 replacements? (Score:3, Insightful)
There's muttering here about digital watermarks or somesuch to uniquely identify each set of
On another note, the digital watermark doesn't seem like it would be effective. It wouldn't take a rocket scientist to send in a real copy of the CD and download the
Amazon and Sony (Score:1, Interesting)
(http://www.dangercollie.com/music/)
As bad as this incident has been the response and comments of the Sony-BMG execs just added fuel to the fire. Their response was arrogant and clueless, rivaled only by the Bush administration for sheer gall and contempt of the average person.
If Sony is reflective of the attitude of big business toward their customers, then this rootkit business is only the warm up act. The captain has turned on the fasten seat belt sign, please return to your seats and hang on.
Demographics (Score:5, Insightful)
(http://www.superficial.net/)
They probably want to determine what percentage of the people who were sufficiently outraged by XCP to go to the trouble of sending back the CD are interested in a MP3 version instead (and therefore the sort of people who would've probably tried circumventing said copy-protection in the first place) vs those who actually had genuine technical issues with it.
Good market research for them really.
F4i takes protection into new areas with XCP (Score:2, Interesting)
http://www.xcp-aurora.com/press_article.aspx?art=
The Next Step - Justice (Score:3, Insightful)
(http://www.aplaceonthe.net/)
If I were one of the artists involved my lawyer would argue something along these lines: Obviously all this negative press will result in fewer of my art being sold. Some number of my fans (regular customers) will no longer trust my work because of this and refrain from future purchases. This is, of course, the fault of Sony. Therefore Sony should pay me the difference. In addition, Sony will immediately consider any contract with me to be null and void because I can no longer count on them to represent me and my work in a respectful manner.
But I'm betting that the artists themselves don't give a wet slap about this either way.
buy each of mine back, at $20 bux each (Score:2, Insightful)
That's what you get... (Score:2, Funny)
I knew a french word once.. (Score:1)
Ouch... (Score:1)
(http://slashdot.org/)
Ok, that hurt. Didn't buy the CD, now I never will...no matter what SONY or BMG says.
Sorry SONY, you may claim ignorance of not knowing what SONY/BMG was doing but too bad for you. I will NEVER buy another product from SONY or a SONY subsidiary ever again.
But the good news is that (Score:1)
the same idiots aim to block your porn.
From their [xcp-aurora.com] stash of press fodder, July 2005:
So that's what they've been working on. No wonder they've
Why bother with MP3s? (Score:2)
Consumers who choose to receive MP3 files in addition to replacement CD(s)
Why the heck would I bother to download their "MP3s" -- especially after the fiasco with the CDs -- when I'm supposedly going to get an unencumbered CD in the mail in a few weeks and I can rip it into whatever the heck format I want?
Remember the formula, kids! (Score:2)
(Last Journal: Thursday January 22 2004, @05:30PM)
You take the population of vehicles in the field (A) and multiply it by the probable rate of failure (B), then multiply the result by the average cost of an out-of-court settlement (C).
A times B times C equals X. This is what it will cost if we don't initiate a recall.
If X is greater than the cost of a recall, we recall the cars and no one gets hurt.
If X is less than the cost of a recall, then we don't recall.
Fire Howard Stringer (Score:1)
Too Little Too Late (Score:2)
(Last Journal: Saturday November 10, @03:30PM)
In other words, all your assets are belong to us. Let those few states with those laws sue your ass in court. we've got "States Rights" and we'll use them to bnankrupt your ass in every country you sell your products in. Boo-ya, BITCH.
DOn't Do it! (Score:1)
(http://slashdot.org/)
Just wait... someones gonna par-te' and Sony's gonn foot the bill.
Wait, stop the presses!! (Score:2)
Close call (Score:2)
Re:ISO's too? (Score:4, Funny)
(Last Journal: Tuesday March 13 2007, @02:39PM)
Re:Whose IP are they protecting here? (Score:2)
Re:Worst 52 albums ever (Score:2)
(http://www.manu.com.au/)
G3: Live in Tokyo was performed by Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and John Petrucci. Arguably the greatest rock guitarists of all time. It's a great album. You might not know the names but you'd definitely know their songs; e.g. Surfing With The Alien by Joe Satriani. The G3 series has been awesome with appearances by Eric Johnson and Yngwie Malmsteen.
And Neil Diamond rocks.
Re:It is a start... (Score:1)
Amen! I'm so sick of having to keep half a dozen chargers around when nearly all of it needs the same 12 volt DC.
Re:Whose IP are they protecting here? (Score:1)