Fascinating tale of DRM hell |
Guess it’s hard to get over the hellish references now that Halloween is over, but I just read through this scary DRM tale from Mark’s Sysinternals blog, which unfortunately appears to be all too true:
The entire experience was frustrating and irritating. Not only had Sony put software on my system that uses techniques commonly used by malware to mask its presence, the software is poorly written and provides no means for uninstall. Worse, most users that stumble across the cloaked files with a RKR scan will cripple their computer if they attempt the obvious step of deleting the cloaked files.
All this just to protect a CD from being copied, Sony? This is really not the path to go down. Simply cannot keep treating your customers like thieves if you want to stay in business. If I drop 15 bones on a CD then I not only desire but expect the ability to play it on any machine I have up to and including my computers, portable device, CD player or heck maybe on the DVD player. Why don’t you just handcuff me to the jewel case and require DNA samples to unlock the disc for each play?
Furthermore I should be able to make an archival copy so that the original will not get damaged and force me to buy another copy in a couple years. Meanwhile, I’m paying to listen to the music over the radio on the internet too … how many hands are they putting in my pockets?!
More proof that the real thieves aren’t music fans.
Did this post make you go hmm?
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Heh. I just posted yesterday on how to get around Sony’s Labelgate on their music CDs, but one of LUX’s authors told me that publishing such was illegal in the States, so I pulled the details of the post. What’s really annoying about it is that I “OWN” the CD and yet they don’t allow me to play the music in a computer without installing some really stupid player.
Figured an easy way around that, wanted to share with the world that you can still buy these CDs, but then I find that you can’t. So what’s the point in buying a CD then? Sometimes you wonder what the heck the agenda of DRM really is there for since it’s really not helping their profit margins any.
Comment by darkmoon — November 1, 2005 @ 12:40 pm PST
Isn’t it getting time to boycott Sony?
- They continue to force users of their lame portable music players to have their *legally purchased* music translated into some obscure format ONLY used by Sony (ATRAC)
- Their music software is a steaming pile of bovine excrement.
- And enough has already been said about their protected CDs here and elsewhere.
Such anti-consumer behavior can’t last, can it? Well, as long as people keep buying the CDs… [sigh]
Comment by Adam — November 1, 2005 @ 5:36 pm PST
Why is Sony reinventing the DRM wheel in the States?
It’s amazing that Sony BMG is trying to DRM their CDs here in the States and going through such drastic measures as installing rootkits on your Windows system. This is also one of the reasons why I really don’t touch…
Trackback by LUX.ET.UMBRA — November 2, 2005 @ 10:19 am PST
[…] Sony has released a patch to stop the hiding of their hidden rootkit which virus vendors raised concerns that malicious code could be buried using this copy protection scheme. […]
Pingback by Make You Go Hmm: » Virus concerns cause Sony to patch hide and go seek CD copy protection scheme — November 2, 2005 @ 5:20 pm PST
[…] Mark Russinovich, the guy who broke the disturbing story of Sony somewhat covertly installing a rootkit (see Fascinating tale of DRM hell) as part of their DRM strategy, received a response from First 4. And then he offers a detailed counterpoint essentially echoing other experts that it was too little, too late: Instead of admitting fault for installing a rootkit and installing it without proper disclosure, both Sony and First 4 Internet claim innocence. By not coming clean they are making clear to any potential customers that they are a not only technically incompetent, but also dishonest. […]
Pingback by Make You Go Hmm: » Sony DRM rootkit debacle continues — November 9, 2005 @ 10:27 pm PST
[…] Chronology of Sony DRM saga Tuesday November 1, 2005: Fascinating tale of DRM hell Monday November 7, 2005: Sony DRM rootkit debacle continues Tuesday November 8, 2005: EMI says no rootkits from our CDs Wednesday November 9, 2005: Pest Patrol will purge Sony’s rootkit enabled DRM software New! yactions.buildButton( ’save’, ‘My_Web’ ); […]
Pingback by Make You Go Hmm: » Sony recalls CDs, offers swap to customers — November 15, 2005 @ 4:04 pm PST