Play a Sony BMG cd on your computer - get a virus for free.

[Tuomio]

Oh, but the copy-protection, besides hiding the registers, it also portreys itself in misleading name "Plug and Play Device Manager" if anybody stumbless across it in some process manager. No removal tools are shipped with the CD nor does EULA tell anything about such software.

Virus it is, there is no way around this. We all know how virus programmers and distributors should be prosecuted with harshest means, or even hanged on the spot, i dont know why Sony should be any different. They knowingly did this and if somebody would dig it up further by legal means, im sure there would be hard evidence, that they wanted this program to be very permanent and unremovable on client end.

[Chairboy]

Tuomio, first of all, listing them as a "partner" does not mean they are a subsidiary of Symantec, just that they're a company that has some sort of a business relationship.  Regarding the comment about Symantec software categorizing it as non-harmful, that may be true, but I'll have to research that more.  I had heard a rumor saying exactly the opposite, but I'll have to get back to you.  This program may be non-harmful on its own, but I have grave concerns about the vulnerabilities it opens on systems.  It's possible that, and I speak not as an employee but for myself, that when the determination was made to mark it as non-harmful (if that happened), it was before the risks were known.

[2bighorn]

Industry is also pushing hardware based DRM. So, switching to other OSs may only delay inevitable.

[Skuzzy]

Originally posted by Tuomio
Oh, but the copy-protection, besides hiding the registers, it also portreys itself in misleading name "Plug and Play Device Manager" if anybody stumbless across it in some process manager. No removal tools are shipped with the CD nor does EULA tell anything about such software.

Virus it is, there is no way around this. We all know how virus programmers and distributors should be prosecuted with harshest means, or even hanged on the spot, i dont know why Sony should be any different. They knowingly did this and if somebody would dig it up further by legal means, im sure there would be hard evidence, that they wanted this program to be very permanent and unremovable on client end.

Wrong.  I suggest you read up the licensing on DRM from Microsoft.  Sadly, Sony is not violating anything within the terms of DRM.  If you own a copy of XP, and have installed it, then you have accepted the DRM EULA.

Let me be clear.  I hate/detest DRM.  I think it is highly intrusive and wreaks of big brother.

[GtoRA2]

all because dirtballs have to pirate games and music ( and the music industry robs you on the price, but thats not a good reason to steal it, just don't buy it)




Always how it goes, the dirtbags ruin it for everyone.

[Chairboy]

If, of course, you are of the mind that EULAs are enforcable.  Courts seem to increasingly disagree with the manufacturers on that matter.

[Tuomio]

Originally posted by Chairboy
Tuomio, first of all, listing them as a "partner" does not mean they are a subsidiary of Symantec, just that they're a company that has some sort of a business relationship.  Regarding the comment about Symantec software categorizing it as non-harmful, that may be true, but I'll have to research that more.  I had heard a rumor saying exactly the opposite, but I'll have to get back to you.  This program may be non-harmful on its own, but I have grave concerns about the vulnerabilities it opens on systems.  It's possible that, and I speak not as an employee but for myself, that when the determination was made to mark it as non-harmful (if that happened), it was before the risks were known.

Yeah i used wrong wording with this one, altough its still ironical. I dont agree with the non-harmfull one, but the intention surely was not to cause harm on the client, what they say about good intentions.. There are probably thousands of "real" viruses, that are less harmfull than this one.. For example if i'd had such program on my computer, i would hard delete it. This would spell disaster if the user comments about this are true. As an power-user-nerd, i would not have even slightest clue how to get rid of this program, disturbing.

This is just the beginning, too much of money to be made in the distribution of information for it to remain free.

[Skuzzy]

There is that Chairboy, but you want to take MS to court?  hehe.  I can pretty well bet you how that would turn out.

[indy007]

Lets be honest here... who actually reads an entire EULA for an OS, game, browser, whatever? I know I tend to read them at a few thousand words per second as I flick my scroll-wheel like crazy to make the agree button appear.

Blizzard & Microsoft can come fight over who has the rites to my soul later.

[Tuomio]

Originally posted by indy007
Blizzard & Microsoft can come fight over who has the rites to my soul later.

Sadly this is true, i would not have balls to do anything about it even if i had the money. Thus, one day i might connect to the internet with the newest MS-WIN_XX and see text "Your licence for use of MSN internet protocol has expired, please contact your local authorized MSN internet licence dealer"

[Skuzzy]

Well, seeing how this is about DRM, more than anything else.

You folks might want to know about this.

[Fishu]

Originally posted by Skuzzy
How many of you who are complaining also playe Silent Hunter III?  It installs its own copy-protection software without telling you about it as well.

It does tell it installed something, although it doesn't ask from user before installing it.
However Starforce drivers and stuff can be removed with a tool provided by the company developing it.
Starforce doesn't either try to totally hide itself and it works passively (when launched by SF protected program).

It's not something I like, but it is somewhat different than what Sony is doing.

[Vulcan]

All they are accomplishing is motivating people towards sourcing cracked software/media without protection. The MPAA and RIAA are 3 steps behind the kids that crack this stuff.

They also make themselves look greedy by the licensing schemes they are dreaming up. Public sympathy for piracy grows with every step the MPAA and RIAA make.

[Skuzzy]

Conceptually it is the same thing though Fishu, and it will become more and more prevalent and pervasive, if the powers that be continue to get thier way.

Do not make the mistake of singling out Sony for being the bad guy here.  The real bad guys would like nothing more than to have all this attention directed away from them.

EDIT:  Vulcan, the real problem is for the ninety-nine percentile who have no idea what 'cracking' is.  All they know is they have been handicapped from using the media they purchased and the big-bad-boogy-bear is going to come take thier children away if they do not abide by the law.
I know what cracking is, but guess what?  If they go forward in the manner they are moving, I'll just stop purchasing any media at all.  Games, music, and videos.  No skin off my nose.

[Tuomio]

Skuzzy, i think i will be seeing nightmares tonight about that law proposition, thank you!