Thanks, Claudine. I can probably not avoid buying another Sony CD in my lifetime but I will avoid buying anything else known to be manufactured by them.
Regards, Alastair. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Claudine Robbins" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "RBG7-L Mailing List" <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2005 1:43 AM Subject: [RBG7-L] - Re: Sony followup - Copy protection temporarily suspended > Here is an article that you may find of interest. Page two has a link to > such a list. > > http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1009_22-5946760.html?tag=st.prev > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Alastair > > Burr > > Sent: Monday, November 14, 2005 8:27 AM > > To: RBG7-L Mailing List > > Subject: [RBG7-L] - Re: Sony followup - Copy protection temporarily > > suspended > > > > Thanks for posting this, Doug. > > > > Since the original posting I have checked numerous CDs for any evidence of > > this - or any other - software that is not identified on either the disk > > or > > the packaging. Luckily, I have found no evidence of this particular horror > > - > > but then I'm also not meant to!! > > > > If anybody knows of a list of such CDs being available either now or in > > the > > future please take the trouble to post a link to it. > > > > Thanks in advance & regards, > > Alastair. > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Doug Hamilton" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > To: "RBG7-L Mailing List" <[email protected]> > > Sent: Monday, November 14, 2005 9:37 AM > > Subject: [RBG7-L] - Sony followup - Copy protection temporarily suspended > > > > > > > This is a followup to a several posts in the past week regarding Sony's > > > stealth installation of root-kit software from audio CDs to prevent > > > piracy. I realize this is off-topic but feel it's a noteworthy followup, > > > especially if you deal with PCs that may play audio CDs. > > > Doug > > > > > > Sony BMG suspends copy-protection software > > > >By Paul Taylor in New York > > > >Published: November 11 2005 20:31 | Last updated: November 11 2005 > > 20:31 > > > >> > > > Sony BMG, the joint venture record label, was on Friday forced into an > > > embarrassing climbdown over its use of copy-protection technology on > > > music CDs that exposed some PC users to hackers. > > > > > > The company said it would "temporarily suspend" use of the controversial > > > software and apologised to PC users for "possible inconvenience" it may > > > have caused. > > > > > > The turnaround came after several PC security firms identified a > > > "Trojan" e-mail virus designed to exploit software that some of Sony > > > BMG's music CDs install on their owners' computers when played. > > > > > > The copy protection software dubbed "XCP" developed by UK-based > > > First4Internet, limits the number of copies that can be made from the > > > original CD. It is designed to deter "casual piracy" - typically, > > > friends copying each other's music CDs. > > > > > > Sony BMG, whose recording stars include Celine Dion, Mariah Carey and > > > Destiny's Child, is believed to have installed XCP on millions of CDs > > > since it began using the software earlier this year. > > > > > > On Friday, Sony BMG, which faces a number of lawsuits in the US related > > > to the use of the software, acknowledged for the first time that it > > > could render PC users vulnerable to attack. > > > > > > "We are aware that a computer virus is circulating that may affect > > > computers with XCP content protection software," the company said, > > > adding that the software has been included on a limited number of Sony > > > BMG titles, but emphasising, "This potential problem has no effect on > > > the use of these discs in conventional, non-computer-based, CD and DVD > > > players." > > > > > > In response to the virus attacks, the company said it had provided a > > > software "patch" to all major anti-virus companies and to the general > > > public. The patch protects PC users against the virus, identified by > > > Kaspersky, the Russian PC security firm and by UK-based Sophos. > > > > > > "We deeply regret any possible inconvenience this may cause," Sony BMG > > > said, adding that it stood by its content-protection technology as "an > > > important tool to protect our intellectual property rights and those of > > > our artists". The company said: "Nonetheless, as a precautionary > > > measure, Sony BMG is temporarily suspending the manufacture of CDs > > > containing XCP technology. 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." > > > > > > Sony BMG has still not identified which of its music CDs contain the > > > software. Earlier this week, however, the Electronic Frontier > > > Foundation, a US-based consumer advocacy group, identified at least 19 > > > Sony BMG music CDs that the group claims install the software when > > > played on a PC. > > > > > > Critics, including the EFF, claim the software also slows down PCs and > > > makes them more susceptible to crashes and third-party attacks. "Since > > > the program is designed to hide itself, users may have trouble > > > diagnosing the problem," the EFF said. > > > > > > Find this article at: > > > > > http://news.ft.com/cms/s/018223e4-52f0-11da-8d05- > > 0000779e2340,ft_acl=,s01=1.html > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > > > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > > > Version: 7.1.362 / Virus Database: 267.13.0/167 - Release Date: > > 11/11/2005 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > No virus found in this outgoing message. > > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > > Version: 7.1.362 / Virus Database: 267.13.0/167 - Release Date: 11/11/2005 > >
