SONY Music protects it's CDs with computer virus

[Slomo]

In order to prevent digital copying of its music CDs Sony thought it was a good idea to design a virus that installs on your PC when you put the "infected" CD in your CD-ROM Drive. http://spurstalk.com/forums/images/smilies/smirolleyes.gif

Can you say "Class action suit" in japanese?

The technical explanation by the guy who discovered it (http://www.sysinternals.com/blog/2005/10/sony-rootkits-and-digital-rights.html).

Some repercusion (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4434852.stm) and of course pirates are finding the silver lining (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4427606.stm) in all of this.

List of "infected" CDs (http://www.idiotabroad.com/?p=58)

[Extra Stout]

Let's see...

20 million customers (rough guess) x $500/wrecked computer = $10 billion in compensatory damages.

Maybe another $20 billion in punitive damages.

[Pistons < Spurs]

November 11, 2005

Sony Suspends CD Copy Protection

Stung by strong criticism, Sony BMG Music Entertainment says it will stop producing CDs with its controversial XCP copy-protection technology.


Sony BMG Music Entertainment on Friday announced that it would stop producing CDs with its controversial XCP copy-protection technology.

"As a precautionary measure, Sony BMG is temporarily suspending the manufacture of CDs containing XCP technology," the company -- a joint venture by Sony and Germany's Bertelsmann AG -- said in a statement. "We also intend to re-examine all aspects of our content protection initiative to be sure that it continues to meet our goals of security and ease of consumer use."

The move came just a day after nearly every major security firm put out alerts that a Trojan horse was using the XCP (eXtended Copy Protection) software to hide malicious files. Thursday also saw news of a wave of class-action lawsuits filed or about to be filed against Sony for installing the hacker-style "rootkit" on users' PCs without their permission.

But even as it said it would defer using XCP, Sony remained defiant. "[We] swiftly provided a patch to all major anti-virus companies and to the general public that guards against precisely the type of virus now said to exist," Sony added in its statement.

Mark Russinovich, one of the original discovers of XCP's practice of installing a rootkit to hide its files from crackers, has called that patch into question, however, and shown that in some cases it can crash a computer during installation.

Sony also stood by its rights to copy-protect content from digital piracy. "[It] is an important tool to protect our intellectual property rights and those of our artists."

Numerous anti-virus and anti-spyware vendors have dubbed the XCP technology as spyware or called it "unwanted malicious software," with some, such as Computer Associates, going so far as to blacklist and remove the software.

On Thursday, Sony BMG also posted a news release on its Web site that linked to the patch download and the site where consumers are to request help with uninstalling the copy-protection software. Prior to that, the only URLs users had were those posted in media reports.


http://www.desktoppipeline.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleId=173602437

[Tres_Till_it_MHz]

That is insane, some companies just believe they are the SHIT and have a right to do as they please. Give me a fucking break Sony. This could be the tip of the ice berg, more companies may follow suit if Sony isn't held liable.

[Useruser666]

This is sort of like the time when they had the program that would install a new cd driver on your computer to overwrite your old one. It kept your drive from being able to rip the music of the disc. I hate when those bastards pull this ind of crap.

[katyon6th]

There you go talking sexy again.

[Slomo]

This is sort of like the time when they had the program that would install a new cd driver on your computer to overwrite your old one. It kept your drive from being able to rip the music of the disc. I hate when those bastards pull this ind of crap. I agree 100%!

I'm specially surprised that they would pull a stunt like that in the US (EU CDs are not infected) since punitive damages awarded in the US are much higher than anything you can get in the EU.

You guy must really copy CDs a lot :lmao

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

There's already been a lawsuit filed, others are on the way.

The Dept. of Homeland Security is actually looking into taking to Sony to court over this.

And this is something those of you with the hardons for the PS3 already need to think about as well, I've heard they will have an XCP on steroids to protect Bluray.

[nkdlunch]

That's why real hackers use Linux :)

[Slomo]

That's why real hackers use Linux :) Linux sux only slightly less than Windows! :p and no self respecting hacker is using it.

[nkdlunch]

Linux sux only slightly less than Windows! :p and no self respecting hacker is using it.

Linux rocks u windows ninny!!! :)

[Slomo]

Linux rocks u windows ninny!!! :)
Well I said that it is sllightly better! Linux still sux though! OBSD owns them both! Not that I would expect a linux script kiddie to know what OBSD is. :)

[nkdlunch]

^ OBSD... Only Bull Shitters Diggit???? :lol









open bsd is ok

[Slomo]

:lmao I know a guy who would blow a fuse if I repeated that post to him. OK enough! we've just reached a new high on this boards nerdness level. :lol

I know a few guys how are real serious about OS development and hacking (white hat) and they're really nice guys and good friends but I'm not really part of the inner circle because I guess I'm not smart enough. But this type of arguments over which OS is better and the script kiddie name calling are taken very seriously in those circles.

[nkdlunch]

haha. I ain't smart enough either. I've burned too many braincells

[katyon6th]

I prefer to work on Mac platforms.

(thought I'd throw in my support for Macs everywhere)

[Vashner]

PS3 sucks buy Xbox 360's!!! (well cause I'll be selling x360 games :) )

[MannyIsGod]

These guys are out of fucking control. They believe their right to "protect" extenends to the point they can "attack"! This is going to be very important (as most of these cases are) as far as setting judicial precident goes.

[Vashner]

I think out in some volcanic island the Japanese are building like giant robots to attack us someday...

BONZAI.... BONZAI.. BONZAI!!!

[Useruser666]

Well I said that it is sllightly better! Linux still sux though! OBSD owns them both! Not that I would expect a linux script kiddie to know what OBSD is. :)

I enjoy not having to write a driver for every new keyboard I buy! :lol

[baseline bum]

Fvck that fat Blowfish. It's all about Beastie.

http://www.freebsd.org/layout/images/beastie.png

LOL.... it looks like the SA skyline in one of their ads.


http://www.openbsd.org/art/main.gif

[Slomo]

I enjoy not having to write a driver for every new keyboard I buy! :lol
There's no fun in plug'n play hardware :p

[ShoogarBear]

I haven't seen geekspeak like this since grad school.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Hey Vashner, need any game testers for the 360?

[Slomo]

The saga continues....
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/11/17/sony_drm_uninstaller_peril/

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Sony sucks. If there is any karma in this world they'll fucking go out of business out of this shit.

Between their gay proprietary memory sticks, games, batteries for cameras, tapes for cameras, etc. they're like one big monopoly, a half ass attempt at one though.

With everything I've heard about the Blu-Ray spec I'm going to be keeping that shit as far away from my computer and entertainment center as possible.

Fuck Sony.

[cherylsteele]

I say....BOYCOTT!

I will not buy another Sony product if at all possible.

[xcoriate]

Hey Vashner,

I'm always seeing you talking about making games and the latest shadeer code and all that shit. Have you actually produced any titles and in what role? Just interested cause it might be work I'd look at going into.