Who knows? I don't think so, but it could be easily done if they (Sony) felt like it. But after all the shrapnel being fired at them right now, I wouldn't advise them to.

Sony had better get it's act together and come up with something fair to consumers before it injects it's DRM measures into their soon-to-be blu-ray disc format.

this is like... the most depressing thread ever... I need some tequila!!

does anybody know how many "limited copies" does this new copy protection allow you to make?

""For a breach [of the CMA], it would need to be proved beyond any reasonable doubt that access to the computer was unauthorised and that the provider knew that such access was unauthorised. An alternative charge of unauthorised modification of a computer under the Act is also likely to fail because it would be difficult to prove the necessary intent to impair the operation of the computer," said Robertson."

Well, when we access the internet, we seem to be saying "go ahead, infect my pc" everytime we access a webpage. So, as with any intent to do my home or property harm, I can, by law, take whatever mesures needed to protect it or "defeat" the act. So, whatever software I must use, what ever techno item I need to stop it. So, I propose this. Sony can sell each cd for 1.00, that buys you use on your audio player. 3.75 to be able to play it on your PC. 8.00 for all the above plus xfer it to your MP3/WMA player. Thanks to VCR's and farther time, getting songs from CD to MP3 format is not a issue. :-)

Sony provides executable to facilitate removal of rootkit
Posted by Dan Bell on 08 November 2005 - 20:46 - Source: Sony

Thanks to a posting here by member Alex Thyl, we learn that this morning Sony has taken another step to help those customers that are saddled with the infamous rootkit. It appears they have just uploaded a program called XCP-aurora. By downloading this "service pack" and running it on your system, it will supposedly undo the damage by removing the driver for the cloaking mechanism that can hide files from anti virus scanners. Or at least this is the impression we have at the moment, since we are not afflicted with this malware personally and cannot verify the effectiveness of this new tool. Therfore, we are not recommending it, just passing along the information.

SOFTWARE UPDATES/ PLUG-INS

November 8, 2005 - This Service Pack removes the cloaking technology component that has been recently discussed in a number of articles published regarding the XCP Technology used on SONY BMG content protected CDs. This component is not malicious and does not compromise security. However to alleviate any concerns that users may have about the program posing potential security vulnerabilities, this update has been released to enable users to remove this component from their computers.

Please note, Service Pack 2a is a maintenance release designed to reduce the file size of Service Pack 2. It includes all previous fixes found in Service Pack 1 and Service Pack 2.

"This component is not malicious and does not compromise security." Well, I beg to differ after reading articles from security experts and also anti virus companies. Some may say this is too little, too late and we can even suspect that the so-called tempest in a teacup as First 4 Internet and Sony would like us to believe, is not nearly over.

You can visit the Sony/BMG page here for the downloads if you have purchased one of these Cd's.
http://cp.sonybmg.com/xcp/english/updates.html


Come to think of it, it seems prudent that now, not only should Sony be forced to recall these afflicted Cd's, but they should also post a listing of those products containing the malware. This would let the consumer know if there is a need to even run any more executables from Sony by reading said list, and also so that they can avoid purchasing these products in the first place. At least then it's a buyer beware situation. Right now, we are not sure which music Cd's carry this payload. Possibly, the best thing is to avoid all these Sony/BMG music Cd products until they are forthcoming with the information. If you have seen such a listing, please share it in the reactions below!

While your at it, Wwhy not visit this link here in the CD Freaks Living Room and vote in our poll to say whether you think Sony needs to pull these controversial DRM products from the shelves. Whereas we can't realistically expect legislation to protect us from corporate decisions such as these, if enough people continue to keep the topic alive and then eventually a recall is performed, then the companies will think twice before unleashing such malware in the future. Recalls cost money and this is something corporations understand.

http://www.cdfreaks.com/news/12651

novicebb-
Thread getting a bit stale. Didn't mean to offend. Your post fooled me into thinking you were a $ony fanboy. Even then I was just goofing. I remember the bill you were talking about. Don't think it saw the light of day (I hope).

It's almost funny that they have released THREE patches for a lame-brained CD DRM scheme. Almost...

---

You know, it's ironic, ......

Many of you probably won't remember this, but ....

Some years ago, at the very beginning of the time when a few, smaller labels were experimenting with copy-protected music cds, I sent a comment to the Sony website. Yes, I did get an official(-ish) response.

This was at a time when no one had really heard of the concept "DRM", and a time when the patents for the original, standardized red book cd format was about to expire. These few labels figured that they could get away with 'fudging' with the red book specs since strict adherence to the standard itself would soon not be legally enforceable anyway.

So, in ameteurish-fashion, they started dabbling with more and more highly-irritating DRM "initiatives".

Well, even back then, people were getting more than a little pissed off at the increasing number of snags they were running into when, for example, they simply tried playing these discs back, say, on their car stereos. Almost 100% of the time these discs were NEVER marked as being "copy protected" or "copy restricted" or carried a warning of any kind.

People started to complain more and more. I wrote to Sony, who - as you will recall - was the co-inventor of the cd red-book standard itself. Some lady-spokeswoman sent me back a (rather standardized) formulaic reply.

She thanked me for my concern, and assured me that they were aware of the problem and would be pressing for compliance from those companies who violated the red-book standard that they (Sony) had invented! (I assumed that this would include taking LEGAL action against those companies who willfully disregarded the standard specs).

MY, MY, MY, HOW TIMES HAVE CHANGED, EH?

Sony is now singing a very _different_ tune, as you can see. Since they now own the entire Columbia Records back catalogue, which, presumably, needs "protection", they are now doing far worse things than those which they prohibited other companies from doing just a short time ago. They are rampantly distorting their own specs.

In light of what they've recently done, they sure sound like a bunch of hypocrits to me.

I won't even install their bloated "Sonic Stage" software (to make a few lossy-compressed Atrac3+ music files), because the software, which only makes restricted-use files anyway, leaves behind major DRM enforcers on your hard drive, even after you UNinstall it!

Piss on 'em. [Shrug]

(Etc. etc., blah-blah-bla.......)

KLINGIE,
Do not forget whos behind blue-ray..(sony virus corporation)i hate to see what crap they put on there blue ray disks..

as posted by glass,

Lets all help by not supporting Sony, especially after their Rootkit B.S.

Remember, they are the main people behind Blu-Ray. Looks like I am going to "root" for the HD-DVD format.

and i agree,as anything backed or made by sony virus rootkit corporation is considered by me is nothing but a sony rootkit virus.

I am wondering what the names of the CD's are. I also think that maybe everybody should stop buying anything that's Sony. I know that I personnaly will not be buying anything from them anymore. But I also know that I'll rip anything I can from them.

For those interesred read:

AnyDVD tackles Sony DRM Rootkit Virus
-------------------------------------

Since March 2005, Sony BMG is using a rootkit-based DRM system
on some newer audio CDs. This DRM system is a serious hazard
to each Windows based PC. Well known websites like F-Secure.com
and SysInternals.com (URLs below) are confirming this exposure.

If AnyDVD is installed and active on a PC, this new so-called
"Sony DRM Rootkit Virus" has no access to the operating system
and the affected audio CD appears unprotected regardless!

"What the heck Sony thought to themselves," SlySoft's CEO
Giancarlo Bettini was kidding, "maybe they wanna build their
own bot net?".

This "anti rootkit protection" is not a new function of AnyDVD,
rather it is the nature of AnyDVD to filter all undesired stuff
between a CD/DVD drive and the operating system. It is just one
example, how well AnyDVD's option to "Remove CD Digital Audio
Protection" is working.

AnyDVD v5.5.1.1
New: Added functionality to remove invalid VOBUs from a title set to the option to remove "Protection based on unreadable Sectors". This fixes the error message "Out of memory" from DVDShrink with some DVDs, which suffer from a certain mastering error.
Fix: The option to remove "Protection based on unreadable Sectors" could cause DVDShrink to abort with an "invalid Navigation structure" error with some DVDs, which suffer from a certain mastering error.
Fix: Setup program did not delete obsolete RegCheck.exe file from previous installations
Fix: Undesired high CPU use for several minutes when checking for program update via internet connection

http://www.bitburners.com/News/Software_Updates/AnyDVD_tackles_Sony_DRM_Rootkit_Virus/

Quote:

---

KLINGIE,
Do not forget whos behind blue-ray..(sony virus corporation)i hate to see what crap they put on there blue ray disks..

---

Oh, I know it, Ireland. I know it.

And just last month I bought yet another Sony DVD player (settop), because it's the first player I ever saw that can actually play .MP3 music files directly from a DVD disc instead of just from a CD-R. That's quite an accomplishment. Up until now, DVD players would only play mp3's off a cd.

You could put one heck of a lot of Fats Domino .mp3 albums on a dual-layer DVD. (I'm guessing *at least* 80 (eighty) or so.

(Wonder how many mp3 albums I could get on a single blu-ray disc?) Why, it just boggles my normally-unboggleable mind!!!

And of course, it HAS HAPPENED. The inevitable - just as I stated (up above). Sony is now being sued. No surprise there, huh?

Comment from Doom9's site: "Sony's DRM ends up in court in Italy as the Italian EFF is suing Sony for software that is alike to a virus."

I don't have a link. (Doesn't matter - Sony's in deep s--- now).

It's a pity, all of this. I had really looked forward to the new blu-ray format, preferring it over HD-DVD if for no other reason than it's much higher storage capacity. But I will absolutely *REFUSE* to allow Sony to install any software - (ANY!) on my computer in order to use the format. I'm not talking so much about computer-playback of commercial blu-ray movie discs (I doubt my computer has enough muscle to play Hi-Definition anyway), but rather, any future blu-ray burner I may care to buy.

The blank blu-ray disc had better come SOFTWARE-FREE or else I will have nothing to do with it.

Glass - I owe you an email. (Soon I hope - I haven't forgotten you). I'll cc. it to you too, Larry.

-- Klingy --

Well after a few quick clicks after a google search I found the site I wanted.

http://www.firstgov.gov/Agencies/Federal/Legislative.shtml
This link will take you to our fine government and where you can send an email to you state senators and congress man or woman. What good it will do well that will left to be seen, the sqeaky wheel is always heard so lets make some noise.

This didnt take too long.....

http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/internet/11/10/sony.hack.reut/index.html

Wow!

(Great link, christ93). Yep - this had to happen too. (Others using Sony's/First 4 Internet's shitware to infect people's PCs.)

Others are now using rootkits, and Sony is getting sued. Sounds about right. (!!!)

This whole mess is probably the worst thing Sony's ever done in it's entire history. I could be wrong, but I think I read somewhere that Sony has now recalled (taken back) all of it's 20 music cd titles carrying their unacceptably-manipulative "copy protection".

Blu-ray indeed. [sigh.....] I'm going to be watching this one very closely before I invest so much as a nickle.

What do you wanna bet Sony has just set back the introduction of the blu-ray format by months ? Few people trust them now. This may be just the edge that the HD-DVD camp was looking for to win "The War".

If they don't FarkUp like Sony did, they just might make it too.......

good morning klingon..and all
the names of some of Sony Rootkit Virus Corp.,music cd's.

EFF posts list of Sony rootkit Cd's- testing waters for lawsuit

Posted by Dan Bell on 10 November 2005 - 23:06 - Source: Electronic Frontier Foundation

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is considering a lawsuit against Sony due to the rootkit fiasco and is taking names of affected customers. They have gathered at least a partial list of the Cd's that contain the malware so at least we can finally learn some of the titles.

* Trey Anastasio, Shine (Columbia)
* Celine Dion, On ne Change Pas (Epic)
* Neil Diamond, 12 Songs (Columbia)
* Our Lady Peace, Healthy in Paranoid Times (Columbia)
* Chris Botti, To Love Again (Columbia)
* Van Zant, Get Right with the Man (Columbia)
* Switchfoot, Nothing is Sound (Columbia)
* The Coral, The Invisible Invasion (Columbia)
Acceptance, Phantoms (Columbia)
* Susie Suh, Susie Suh (Epic)
* Amerie, Touch (Columbia)
* Life of Agony, Broken Valley (Epic)
* Horace Silver Quintet, Silver's Blue (Epic Legacy)
* Gerry Mulligan, Jeru (Columbia Legacy)
* Dexter Gordon, Manhattan Symphonie (Columbia Legacy)
* The Bad Plus, Suspicious Activity (Columbia)
* The Dead 60s, The Dead 60s (Epic)
* Dion, The Essential Dion (Columbia Legacy)
* Natasha Bedingfield, Unwritten (Epic)
* Ricky Martin, Life (Columbia) (labeled as XCP, but, oddly, our disc had no protection)

Several other Sony-BMG CDs are protected with a different copy-protection technology, sourced from SunnComm, including:

* My Morning Jacket, Z
* Santana, All That I Am
* Sarah McLachlan, Bloom Remix Album

This is not a complete list. So how do you recognize other XCP-laden CDs in the wild?

Tip-off #1: on the front of the CD, at the left-most edge, in the transparent "spine", you'll see "CONTENT PROTECTED" along with the IFPI copy-protection logo. A few photos make this clearer.

You can visit the EFF for more information and also to read up on what else this organization is up to. We ought to think about kicking these guys some support, they always seem to be in the forefront when it comes to protecting peoples rights and fighting the big dogs.
http://www.cdfreaks.com/news/12667

Sony-BMG Rootkit: EFF Collecting Stories, Considering Litigation
November 09, 2005

EFF is collecting stories from EFF members and supporters who have purchased Sony-BMG CDs that contained the "rootkit" copy protection software. We've previously posted at least a partial list of CDs infected here

We're considering whether the effect on the public, or on EFF members, is sufficiently serious to merit a lawsuit.

If you satisfy the following criteria, we would like to hear from you:

1. you have a Windows computer;
2. First 4 Internet's "xcp" copy protection has been installed on your computer from a Sony CD (for more details, see our blog post referenced above or SysInternals blog);
3. you reside in either California or New York;
4. you are willing to participate in litigation.

We have not made any final decisions about filing any legal action, but we would like to hear from music fans who have been harmed by the Sony-BMG "rootkit" copy protection technology. Please contact allison@eff.org.

Posted by Cindy Cohn at 07:27 PM | Permalink | Technorati

http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/archives/004149.php

I bought a Sony monitor about six months ago, and after installing it, my DVD backup software would no longer operate. It was obvious to me immediately that something about the install had disabled the DVD backup software. The DVD FOR FREE program has worked to enable the software again, though. I still don't know what was installed.

KLINGON MORE CRAP IN THE STATES

Justice Dept. proposes tougher copyright laws

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - People who attempt to copy music or movies without permission could face jail time under legislation proposed by the U.S. Justice Department on Thursday.

The bill, outlined by U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales at an anti-piracy summit, would widen intellectual-property protections to cover those who try but fail to make illicit copies of music, movies, software or other copyrighted material.

It would also enable investigators to seize assets purchased with profits from the sale of illicit copies, as well as property such as blank CDs that might be used for future copying.

Those found guilty of a copyright violation could be forced to pay restitution to the owner of the material in question, and repeat offenders would face stiffer sentences.

"This legislation is a reflection of the sustained commitment on the part of the Bush Administration, including the Department of Justice, to ensure that we are doing everything we can to combat this problem," Gonzales said in a press release.

A recording-industry trade group praised the bill, but a public-interest group, Public Knowledge, said the Justice Department should consider measures that would protect consumers' fair-use rights as well.

The bill has not yet been introduced in Congress.

Congress in recent years has strengthened copyright laws to help media companies battling the widespread copying of their works, and law enforcers have increasingly targeted groups that release movies on the Internet hours after they appear in theaters.

The U.S. Supreme Court also struck a blow for the entertainment industry in June when it ruled 9-0 that Internet file-trading companies can be held liable if they induce users to break copyright laws.

« Last Edit: Today at 5:07pm by Ireland » Logged

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=technologyNew... US-MEDIA-COPYRIGHT.xml&archived=False

Thanks for the list Ireland. Not that I would buy anything from Sony now. As for you second post, any lawyer types out there reading this, does fair use become more restricted by this? I am allowed to make a backup copy of any media that I purchase. But if I try and fail and ask for some help on a forum such as this, from what I get from the article, I can be charged with copyright infringement. Correct me if Im wrong..

Thanks

Quote:

---

KLINGON MORE CRAP IN THE STATES ...

---

Ah, it doesn't much matter anymore, Ireland. We're bombared with this crap day after day after day after .... changing laws, litigation, more lawsuits, "crackdowns", you name it. 5 minutes from now, we'll have eighteen more 'earth-shattering' announcements.

I'm sitting this one out. Let the chips fall where they may.

(You and Glenn should have your e-mail by now). :)

@thelox714

Read the following

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/11/11/sony_bmg_mac_drm/

Sony's $hitware has hit the mac!!!!

---

Quote: (christ93)

Thanks for the list Ireland. Not that I would buy anything from Sony now. As for you second post, any lawyer types out there reading this, does fair use become more restricted by this? I am allowed to make a backup copy of any media that I purchase. But if I try and fail and ask for some help on a forum such as this, from what I get from the article, I can be charged with copyright infringement. Correct me if Im wrong..


I would like to know the answer, as I, myself, am guilty of the above. I am not a lawyer, nor do I know the ins and outs of what constitutes fair use and copyright infringement. Has it come to the point that I will no longer ask for help, afraid of the repercussions?

Bill of Rights


1. Users have the right to "time-shift" content that they have legally acquired.
This gives you the right to record video or audio for later viewing or listening. For example, you can use a VCR to record a TV show and play it back later.

2. Users have the right to "space-shift" content that they have legally acquired.
This gives you the right to use your content in different places (as long as each use is personal and non-commercial). For example, you can copy a CD to a portable music player so that you can listen to the songs while you're jogging.

3. Users have the right to make backup copies of their content.
This gives you the right to make archival copies to be used in the event that your original copies are destroyed.

4. Users have the right to use legally acquired content on the platform of their choice.
This gives you the right to listen to music on your Rio, to watch TV on your iMac, and to view DVDs on your Linux computer.

5. Users have the right to translate legally acquired content into comparable formats.
This gives you the right to modify content in order to make it more usable. For example, a blind person can modify an electronic book so that the content can be read out loud.

6. Users have the right to use technology in order to achieve the rights previously mentioned.
This last right guarantees your ability to exercise your other rights. Certain recent copyright laws have paradoxical loopholes that claim to grant certain rights but then criminalize all technologies that could allow you to exercise those rights. In contrast, this Bill of Rights states that no technological barriers can deprive you of your other fair use rights.

http://www.digitalconsumer.org/bill.html

HOME PAGE
http://www.digitalconsumer.org/

Please give Ireland's link, I'm having a hard time finding it...........Thanks.

Thanks for the info Ireland. The proposed legislation flies in the face of fair use. Time to write Washington again.

---

PSP3 users

Read this
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=27568

As posted on doom9

http://blogs.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2005/11/the_bush_admini.html