Finally. The Class Action suits have started against Sony!

WilliamL · « **on:** 10 Nov 2005, 05:46 pm »

http://blogs.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/

Good!

ctviggen · « **Reply #1 on:** 10 Nov 2005, 05:49 pm »

The really sad thing is that now there's a possibility of a lot of people having their compture's infected because of Sony. That's just obscene.

ScottMayo · « **Reply #2 on:** 10 Nov 2005, 06:34 pm »

Quote from: Bill Laurent

http://blogs.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/

We've all stopped buying Sony, right? Music, hardware, anything? No Playstations under the Christmas tree?

If enough people talk this up and engage in boycott - not to get any particular policy change, but strictly to punish Sony and try to put it out of business - there's a good chance that no other company will try anything like this.

Tell your friends. Tell Circuit City. Tell your suppliers: No Sony Anything.

art · « **Reply #3 on:** 10 Nov 2005, 07:08 pm »

I have been telling people not to buy Sony electronics for almost 20 years. Obviously, I need help!

If you have ever tried to fix any of their stuff, you would know why............

Pat

PhilNYC · « **Reply #4 on:** 10 Nov 2005, 07:09 pm »

Looks like the hackers are trying to exploit it...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051110/tc_nm/sony_hack_dc;_ylt=Ar3suDMtJt6s8Rt5Ap3anxZU.3QA;_ylu=X3oDMTA4ZnRnZjhkBHNlYwMxNjk1

Thump553 · « **Reply #5 on:** 10 Nov 2005, 07:43 pm »

For those uninformed about this corporate scandal, here is a pretty informative article from the Christian Science Monitor:

http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/1109/p14s01-stct.html

My favorite quote from the article:

Quote

For his part, Russinovich wonders why Sony wasn't more careful in the first place. He cites a National Public Radio interview with Sony's president of Global Digital Business, Thomas Hesse, in which he said that "most people, I think, don't even know what a rootkit is, so why should they care about it?"

I hope Mr. Hesse has his resume dusted off, for he should be unemployed very soon (if there is justice in this world).

ctviggen · « **Reply #6 on:** 10 Nov 2005, 07:55 pm »

I did own a Sony TV once. I do not believe that I own anything from Sony, but doesn't Sony own a bunch of stuff? For instance, they own Miramax. Hmm...I do have Kill Bill, which is Miramax. What else do they own?

PhilNYC · « **Reply #7 on:** 10 Nov 2005, 08:09 pm »

Quote from: ctviggen

I did own a Sony TV once. I do not believe that I own anything from Sony, but doesn't Sony own a bunch of stuff? For instance, they own Miramax. Hmm...I do have Kill Bill, which is Miramax. What else do they own?

I thought Miramax was owned by Disney...?

Anyways, Sony owns a ton of stuff...Sony TV (Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, King of Queens, Seinfeld, etc), Sony Pictures (Spider-Man), Playstation, Vaio, let alone all of the Sony Music properties (Columbia/CBS Records, Epic, etc)....

nai02fungoid · « **Reply #8 on:** 10 Nov 2005, 08:28 pm »

Found this writeup on the Silicone Valley newsletter about DRM:

Find out who programmed the rootkit DRM and send Qrio to kill him: Sony BMG's digital rights management fiasco has snowballed into a backlash certain to give the company's PR team nightmares for years to come (see "Sony reconsiders policy on hiring 'reformed' hackers," "Sony DRM: You can look but you can't touch," and "Sorry about those secret files; what we meant to install were these secret files"). Early this morning, security outfit Sophos said it had discovered a new Trojan that exploits Sony's controversial copy protection technology. "Despite its good intentions in stopping music piracy, Sony's DRM copy protection has opened up a vulnerability which hackers and virus writers are now exploiting," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos. "We wouldn't be surprised if more malware authors try and take advantage of this security hole, and consumers and businesses alike would be sensible to protect themselves at the earliest opportunity."

An unfortunate turn of events for Sony, which really should have know better than to install rootkits on consumer PCs -- regardless of whether the customers know what they are or not (see Wednesday's astonishing "Quoted" selection). Now the company is reaping the whirlwind, facing a potential criminal investigation abroad, class action lawsuits in California and New York, and the ire of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, which, while considering its own legal action against Sony, has been having quite a bit of fun pointing out the idiocies in the 3,000 word end-user license agreement that accompanies Sony's rootkit CDs. Among the stipulations:

* If your house gets burgled, you have to delete all your music from your laptop when you get home. That's because the EULA says that your rights to any copies terminate as soon as you no longer possess the original CD.
* If you move out of the country, you have to delete all your music. The EULA specifically forbids "export" outside the country where you reside.

and my personal favorite:

* If you file for bankruptcy, you have to delete all the music on your computer. Seriously.

http://blogs.siliconvalley.com/gmsv/2005/11/sonybmgs_digita.html#comments

ctviggen · « **Reply #9 on:** 10 Nov 2005, 08:52 pm »

Phil, you're right -- I googled and saw "Sony/Miramax", and assumed Sony owned Miramax. I didn't read far enough to realize that the site was discussing Sony and Miramax, not that Miramax was a part of Sony.

nathanm · « **Reply #10 on:** 10 Nov 2005, 09:51 pm »

Since it seems clear that non-audiophiles by and large are unconcerned with any sound quality issues I would suggest the easiest way to copy a CD would be to simply play it on a regular disc player and re-record it through the computer's sound card line in. (yes, another A to D stage) Yeah, I know this isn't as easy or fast as taking the digital files off, but it's certainly the most direct way to circumvent any and all possible copy protection. It seems that the record company doesn't care if you make a WORSE sounding copy, they only care if you make a bit for bit copy. At least, that's what I gathered was the argument in the vinyl\cassette days. And what's wrong with sticking two microphones against your speakers and making a copy that way? That doesn't seem to stop movie buffs from setting up a video camera in a theater and re-recording a movie! Heh! As long as you can listen to a song you can make a copy of it, doesn't matter what they try to pull.

Don't get too excited about class action lawsuits, just remember that the same group of assholes who make those ridiculous license terms possible are the same people you want to bring the hammer down on Sony. Stick with the boycott, write angry letters, sign petitions, create Sonyrootkitsucks.edu, or maybe consider radical terrorist plots like disabling Autoplay, buying a Mac or holding down the shift key. Just don't encourage lawyers and politcians, please!

JeffB · « **Reply #11 on:** 10 Nov 2005, 10:12 pm »

There is legislation pending to close the analog loop hole.

I fixed the error in the link.

http://www.extremedrm.com/article/NextGen+Analog+Hole+Legislation+Proposed/164220_1.aspx

I think Sony should get a massive fine for this and that Thomas Hesse should see jail time. This pisses me off. I don't like my computer messed with.

nathanm · « **Reply #12 on:** 11 Nov 2005, 05:39 am »

Well, that link didn't work but...no matter what they try they can only do it because well, they are satisfying their customers. As long as the money is rolling in they must be doing something right. They cannot be stopped so long as you and I continue to buy not only the copy-protected titles, but everything else they sell. Now, obviously this is borderline "impossible" considering how vast the major labels are, but if you give them your money they assume they've got your endorsement.

I have no hope of any boycotts happening though, because people are being conditioned to put up with ever increasing amounts of bullshit. This rootkit scare will be over in two weeks. Hardly anyone will stop buying, the labels will still make profits and there will be more copy protection crap in the future. We have taught the record labels that we are willing to put up with just about anything. Hacker blogs and irate audiophiles mean nothing to the Sony accountant who's looking at his spreadsheet and thinking, "All's well, carry on..."

I hope I am wrong about all this.

art · « **Reply #13 on:** 18 Nov 2005, 04:24 pm »

Seems as though they can't even write their own code:

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=27794

Why am I not surprised.

Pat

nai02fungoid · « **Reply #14 on:** 21 Nov 2005, 10:02 pm »

Sony seeks treatment for severe chronic pain: And so it begins. Today, Texas filed the first in what will assuredly be a long line of state lawsuits against Sony BMG over its disastrous dip into Digital Rights Management on music CDs (see "Let's see -- Secret installation? Check. Hidden changes? Check. Security breach? Check. Dangerous uninstall? Check. Now what was ... oh, yeah. Stolen code? Check." and the slew of related headlines linked from that post). "Sony has engaged in a technological version of cloak-and-dagger deceit against consumers by hiding secret files on their computers,'' said Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott in a statement. "Consumers who purchased a Sony CD thought they were buying music. Instead, they received spyware that can damage a computer, subject it to viruses and expose the consumer to possible identity crime." The Texas anti-spyware law allows the state to recover up to $100,000 for each violation. So let's see -- Sony cranked out 4.7 million CDs with the offending technology, of which 2.1 million were sold before the company issued a recall. Depending on how the state defines a violation, that could add up to ... um ... well, a whole lot of liability. Consumer lawsuits have also been filed in California and New York. And it's just starting.

BTW, research outfit Gartner says this and any similar DRM scheme on music CDs can be defeated with a small piece of opaque tape that renders the data track unreadable and offers this astute advice: "After more than five years of trying, the recording industry has not yet demonstrated a workable DRM scheme for music CDs. Gartner believes that it will never achieve this goal as long as CDs must be playable by stand-alone CD players. The industry may now refocus its attention on seeking legislation requiring the PC industry to include DRM technology in its products. Gartner believes the industry would be better-served by efforts to develop solutions that use DRM as an accounting/tracking tool, rather than as a lock. This approach would enable them to move to play-based business models not tied to hardware, and to track their digital assets without complicating users' ability to move legitimately acquired content to whatever devices they choose."
Comment on this post

ctviggen · « **Reply #15 on:** 21 Nov 2005, 10:19 pm »

It can also be defeated by holding down the shift key while inserting the CD.

art · « **Reply #16 on:** 22 Nov 2005, 04:06 am »

Just heard about our AG's actions on the news. All of the offending CDs have been pulled from stores in Texas.

Pat

nai02fungoid · « **Reply #17 on:** 22 Nov 2005, 01:29 pm »

Glad to see that the AG from one state is doing is job. Now if the rest of them would follow suit (bad pun!!). I am just surprised that my attorney general here in New York, Elliott Spitzer, a man who is almost as dangerous to get between a microphone and reporter as Chuckie Schumer, has not done the same thing. He always needs the headlines since he wants so badly to be our next governor. I expect he will do the same thing in the near future if he thinks he can squeeze it in. After all he is a good one to go after the corporations and their executives.

ctviggen · « **Reply #18 on:** 22 Nov 2005, 02:00 pm »

I don't have much hope for the Texas lawsuit. Under the Commerce Clause of the Constitution ("To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes"; section 8 of the Constitution), Congress has exclusive right to regulate commerce. The Texas law may not (or may -- this area of law is contantly being rewritten it seems, particularly by Scalia and the like) survive a Commerce Clause challenge.

zako · « **Reply #19 on:** 22 Nov 2005, 04:22 pm »

You guys ain,t seen nothin yet...Wait till blueray & HD vid hits the streets. Try to copy anything on that. Its all locked up.