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Sony BMG accused of using pirated software

31 March 2008 16:10 by Andre "DVDBack23" Yoskowitz | 25 comments

Sony BMG, one of the Big 4 record labels, has had a lawsuit filed against them by PointDev, a French software company that claims the label is using pirated versions of its "Ideal Migration" software.

Making the situation even more embarrassing, it seems Sony BMG got themselves in trouble. A company employee called PointDev for help in using the software.

�When PointDev�s technicians addressed the support request they found that the software had been activated with a stolen authorisation key,� reads the original story.

�PointDev got a search warrant for court bailiffs to raid a Sony BMG office in January. The raid discovered four Sony BMG servers containing unlicenced copies of PointDev�s software, so the servers were seized as evidence.�

�We are not interested in an amicable settlement,� added Agustoni Paul-Henry, the CEO of PointDev (translated from French). �It is not just a question of money but more importantly in principle...the rate of software piracy in the company is very high. According to the Business Software Alliance, a association of the major publishers in the market, 47% of programs used in the company are unlawfully used in France...We are forced to watch every week if key software pirates are not on the Internet. We are a small company of six employees. Instead of trying to protect us, we could spend this time to develop ourselves,� finished Paul-Henry Agustoni.

When asked if he believed the pirated software could be just the act of that single employee, Agustoni responded bluntly, �I think piracy is linked to the policy of a company...if the employee has the necessary funding to buy the software they need, it will. If this is not the case, he will find alternative ways, as the work must be done in one way or another.�

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Discuss this article!
jzncarter (Newbie) 31 March 2008 16:14
quality :-) hang em out to dry... [ + quote]
7thsinger (AfterDawn Addict) 31 March 2008 16:18
This demands a slight giggle. Nothing like seeing a multi-billion dollar company using a pirated copy of software. *Quote:* According to the Business Software Alliance, a association of the major publishers in the market, 47% of programs used in the company are unlawfully used Is this how they rig the books to show themselves in the black every quarter? By skimping on legally purchased and licensed software? EDIT: Spelling. [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 31 March 2008 16:21
iluvendo (AfterDawn Addict) 31 March 2008 16:35
Sony BMG illegally plant a root kit virus on peoples pcs when they legally purchase the music. This is ok for Sony. Now they (Sony ) are caught with illegally appropriated software. *1) What hypocracy* 2) Who's the Pirate Now? 3) How do you treat Indignant Pirates without remorse? [ + quote]
goodswipe (Inactive) 31 March 2008 16:53
How ironic! Muhahahahahaha... [ + quote]
Pop_Smith (Senior Member) 31 March 2008 17:58
Now this really is funny and shows how big piracy really is. If a multi-billion dollar company is using pirated software for 47% of its needs they really need to bring the hammer down. The price of the software is nothing compared to what the company is supposedly worth. Even if the company needed 10,000 licenses thats only �9,120 for the initial (probably 1 year) licenses. A two year renewal for 10,000 users is �4560, according to their Renewal order page. Considering its $ony though I don't know if much will happen. However, things would probably fair better for them if the trial was in the US, luckily its not! Peace [ + quote]
silk42 (Senior Member) 31 March 2008 19:16
Sony will probably end up buying the company just to keep this out of the courts. [ + quote]
PirateDan (Member) 31 March 2008 19:34
Can anyone give me a hand with this cross so that we can Nail Sony to. And they bitch and complain about pirates, and they load Blu-ray with all that DRM and who is the Pirate now????? And let's never let them forget about the Root Kits that had on a legally bought and paid for Music CD. I am so glad that it is a French company they are in it for the principle of it. And that sounds like Billions to me and I would have Sony pay it in Euro just for good measure. [ + quote]
drach (Inactive) 31 March 2008 20:02
Another perfect example of "Do as I say, not as I do". [ + quote]
rayals (Junior Member) 31 March 2008 20:34
This is GREAT! I LOVE it! HaHa Sony. You deserve it for all your petty lawsuits! I would LOVE to see a 6 employee company take Sony down a couple of notches! Although I am sure that Sony will prevail (big money always does) it is a pleasure to hear such news. [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 31 March 2008 20:35
iluvendo (AfterDawn Addict) 31 March 2008 21:13
Is this an example of the Golden Rule and or Karma? I think so. If it wasn't for bad luck, I'd have no luck! "The flimsier the product,the higher the price" Ferengi 82nd rule of aquisition [ + quote]
camaro17 (Member) 31 March 2008 22:15
wait one minute, arent sony the people that are so worried about their hard worked on blu-rays being pirated, LMAO Peace [ + quote]
iluvendo (AfterDawn Addict) 31 March 2008 22:37
*Originally posted by camaro17:* wait one minute, arent sony the people that are so worried about their hard worked on blu-rays being pirated, LMAO Peace I guess the software they ($ony) pirated wasn't on a BD disc, so it was OK. If it wasn't for bad luck, I'd have no luck! "The flimsier the product,the higher the price" Ferengi 82nd rule of aquisition [ + quote]
engage16 (Member) 31 March 2008 22:51
let just turn the point of view around real quick... maybe sony did buy the software keys properly... but then they were hacked/stolen by a keygenner. which would cause them to be blacklisted... making it seem like sony was illegally using the software... hopefully that makes some sense... [ + quote]
A_Klingon (Moderator) 31 March 2008 23:01
*Originally posted by iluvendo:* Sony BMG illegally plant a root kit virus on peoples pcs when they legally purchase the music. This is ok for Sony. Now they (Sony ) are caught with illegally appropriated software. This means, of course, that you're probably going to have to return all those expensive blu ray movies you just bought, 'cause there's a 47% chance they were made with illegal software, and you could be charged with owning illegal copies. <gg> Oh! The sweet ring of "just desserts"! :-P [ + quote]
iluvendo (AfterDawn Addict) 31 March 2008 23:33
*Originally posted by A_Klingon:* *Originally posted by iluvendo:* Sony BMG illegally plant a root kit virus on peoples pcs when they legally purchase the music. This is ok for Sony. Now they (Sony ) are caught with illegally appropriated software. This means, of course, that you're probably going to have to return all those expensive blu ray movies you just bought, 'cause there's a 47% chance they were made with illegal software, and you could be charged with owning illegal copies. <gg> Oh! The sweet ring of "just desserts"! :-P Naw, don't own BD or HD DVD, I'm still on VHS. Just seems harder and harder to find new releases on them. If it wasn't for bad luck, I'd have no luck! "The flimsier the product,the higher the price" Ferengi 82nd rule of aquisition [ + quote]
cyprusrom (AfterDawn Addict) 31 March 2008 23:35
*Originally posted by engage16:* let just turn the point of view around real quick... maybe sony did buy the software keys properly... but then they were hacked/stolen by a keygenner. which would cause them to be blacklisted... making it seem like sony was illegally using the software... hopefully that makes some sense... Yeah it makes sense, except if that were the case, everything would be on black and white on paper, Sony would have records of buying those keys. I don't think they(the plaintiffs) went to war without considering that possibility, if it were real. However, is Sony...it will all wash off their backs. They will make it look like the little software technician embezzeled the money that he was given to buy the software(just to have some cash to party with N.Y's ex-gov'er:~)!), and instead he used pirated keys. Or, they will make him "confess" and say he is a Toshiba spy:~), and he was sent to Sony to fight a guerrilla war, take them down from the inside! They will then buy him a trip to Vegas(as a reward for his "confession"), and in Vegas he will get lost... people do get lost in Vegas(sceen it in CSI:~)!)...the desert is vast, makes a good a bone yard!! I'll think of something else they could do...I'll be back:~) [ + quote]
nobrainer (Inactive) 1 April 2008 0:29
sony comes with added stealth install rootkits and DRM, so why wouldn't they steal, after their continual anti-consumer and anti-competition behaviour. http://www.lik-sang.com/ ahh, sony were worried about our health! not because lik-sang were shipping ps3's at launch to the uk for �300 delivered to your door, �125 less than sony rrp! *Originally posted by above link:* A Sony spokesperson declined to comment directly on the lawsuit against Lik-Sang, but recently went on to tell Gamesindustry.biz that "ultimately, we're trying to protect consumers from being sold hardware that does not conform to strict EU or UK consumer safety standards, due to voltage supply differences et cetera; is not - in PS3's case - backwards compatible with either PS1 or PS2 software; will not play European Blu-Ray movies or DVDs; and will not be covered by warranty". http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?doci...earch&plindex=0 illegal sony hacking pc's: http://www.google.co.uk/search?client=fi...G=Google+Search sony payola scandals: http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&cli...nG=Search&meta= The BPI Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, EMI. The RIAA Soundexchange Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, EMI. The IFPI Are: The same anti consumer lot as listed above! The MPAA Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, DISNEY, PARAMOUNT, FOX. How do you stop anti consumer = its easy purchase only second hand media and avoid their propertarian hobbled by DRM hardware! http://www.boycott-riaa.com/ [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 1 April 2008 0:55
ZippyDSM (AfterDawn Addict) 1 April 2008 3:18
nothing is done when the big boys "get want he wants" yet a lil guy a no one dose it and loses his life, the world is madnesses desu! [ + quote]
A_Klingon (Moderator) 1 April 2008 5:10
*Originally posted by cyprusrom:* ....They will then buy him a trip to Vegas(as a reward for his "confession"), and in Vegas he will get lost... people do get lost in Vegas(sceen it in CSI:~)!)...the desert is vast, makes a good a bone yard!! SONY CORLEONE - 'THE GODPAPPY' (Now available on blu ray). Corleone: On this day of my daughter's wedding, you must signa ze contract to release the software, or I gonna make you an offer you canna refuse. Whata I ever do to make you show me such disarespect? You notta even think to call me 'GodPappy'. PointDev: Please, GodPappy. Be my friend? [smooch; schrlup]. You notta sue me? :-D [ + quote]
7thsinger (AfterDawn Addict) 1 April 2008 8:20
^^Lol!^^ "Sir, i would not harm thee for the world...but thou art standing where i'm about to shoot." [ + quote]
maryjayne (Junior Member) 1 April 2008 8:53
This is the best news that I heard in a while! I hope Sony gets taken for a huge settlement. [ + quote]
goodswipe (Inactive) 1 April 2008 10:39
*Originally posted by A_Klingon:* *Originally posted by cyprusrom:* ....They will then buy him a trip to Vegas(as a reward for his "confession"), and in Vegas he will get lost... people do get lost in Vegas(sceen it in CSI:~)!)...the desert is vast, makes a good a bone yard!! SONY CORLEONE - 'THE GODPAPPY' (Now available on blu ray). Corleone: On this day of my daughter's wedding, you must signa ze contract to release the software, or I gonna make you an offer you canna refuse. Whata I ever do to make you show me such disarespect? You notta even think to call me 'GodPappy'. PointDev: Please, GodPappy. Be my friend? [smooch; schrlup]. You notta sue me? :-D LMAO... "look honey, it said goodswipe! oh wow, that's amazing." [ + quote]
Icanbe (Member) 1 April 2008 17:25
*Originally posted by iluvendo:* Is this an example of the Golden Rule and or Karma? I think so. I vote Karma. Whats goes around, comes around sooner or later, you can't escape it. Peace [ + quote]
RNR1995 (Inactive) 4 April 2008 18:55
This is so typical [ + quote]
Sontiago (Newbie) 4 April 2008 22:35
*Quote:* sony comes with added stealth install rootkits and DRM, so why wouldn't they steal, after their continual anti-consumer and anti-competition behaviour. http://www.lik-sang.com/ ahh, sony were worried about our health! not because lik-sang were shipping ps3's at launch to the uk for �300 delivered to your door, �125 less than sony rrp! *Originally posted by above link:* A Sony spokesperson declined to comment directly on the lawsuit against Lik-Sang, but recently went on to tell Gamesindustry.biz that "ultimately, we're trying to protect consumers from being sold hardware that does not conform to strict EU or UK consumer safety standards, due to voltage supply differences et cetera; is not - in PS3's case - backwards compatible with either PS1 or PS2 software; will not play European Blu-Ray movies or DVDs; and will not be covered by warranty". http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?doci...earch&plindex=0 illegal sony hacking pc's: http://www.google.co.uk/search?client=fi...G=Google+Search sony payola scandals: http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&cli...h&meta= Thank god they won the hd dvd war!!!!! (ah before you yell at me that was sarcasm) [ + quote]