Followup To Sony's Shenanigans
Sony tried to slip a fast one by us as described in the Nov 8th post. Now, according to
PC World Magazine, the state of Texas has started a lawsuit and
Electronic Frontier Foundation (EEF) is about to follow suit.
An article in Information Week shows computer users a work around. It seems a well-placed piece of skotch tape can defeat the copy-protection software.
Ya gotta love high-end technology like that!
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The Problem: Three weeks ago, computer expert Mark Russinovich published the first analysis of XCP, which was created to limit the number of copies that Sony customers could make. According to Russinovich, XCP uses the same cloaking techniques as spyware and viruses to hide itself on a user's computer, making it virtually impossible to detect or remove the program and also exposing Sony's customers to security risks. Abbott said Monday that those techniques violate Texas' Consumer Protection Against Computer Spyware Act of 2005. "That law makes it illegal to create deceptive file names or formats to avoid detection or prevent the consumer from removing the software," he said. The Texas attorney general's office is also investigating reports that XCP may be collecting user information and sending it back to Sony, as well as improperly concealing the fact that it does not work with Apple Computer Inc.'s iPod music players. Last week Sony pulled its XCP CDs from store shelves, and launched a program to allow its customers to exchange their music for CDs that did not have the copy-protection software installed, but Austin, Texas, music vendors were still selling some of the titles on Monday, Abbott said. |
An article in Information Week shows computer users a work around. It seems a well-placed piece of skotch tape can defeat the copy-protection software.
Ya gotta love high-end technology like that!