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aiolos

Wed 24 May, 2006


Sony gets off easy

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I know that with the new laws,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> if a person was responsible for installing spyware on other people's pcs,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> he'd probably do some time.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> But when it's a large corporation,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> then thing are certainly different.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
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Sony settled a consolidated class-action lawsuit with its consumers after they were sued over using XCP and MediaMax copy protection measures on its CDs.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> This copy protection measure opened PCs to serious security vulnerabilities through the use of rootkits and offered no means of removal.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> In January,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> Sony proposed a deal with its customers in order to regain trust.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> The proposed deal offers consumers with affected CDs a free replacement,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>$7.50 cash and a choice of a downloadable album from a selection of 200 online titles.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>
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While Sony received a temporary approval in January,<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> a federal judge has finally granted a full approval of this settlement and also requires Sony to provide software to remove the controversial software.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> An EFF lawyer representing consumers in this case was happy with the outcome and would like everyone who has any of the affected discs to take advantage of the settlement.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> <b style="color:#FFA34F"></b> The controversial software was used on discs covering 52 artists.<b style="color:#FFA34F"></b>