Infected Sony music CDs

Just thought I'd pass this bit of info on for anyone that owns any CDs made by Sony-BMG and plays them on a PC computer:
http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/archives/004144.php

I've been following this and it's truly heinous what Sony is doing to its customers. They just announced yesterday they are suspending the use of the rootkit installer due to some crap they made up about it being a hacker risk. For more Sony fun, check out this link from the EFF page to a "plain english" version of the EULA that pops up when you enter a Sony disk into your computer:

Now compare that baseline with the world according to the Sony-BMG EULA, which applies to any digital copies you make of the music on the CD:

1. If your house gets burgled, you have to delete all your music from your laptop when you get home. That's because the EULA says that your rights to any copies terminate as soon as you no longer possess the original CD.

2. You can't keep your music on any computers at work. The EULA only gives you the right to put copies on a "personal home computer system owned by you."

3. If you move out of the country, you have to delete all your music. The EULA specifically forbids "export" outside the country where you reside.

4. You must install any and all updates, or else lose the music on your computer. The EULA immediately terminates if you fail to install any update. No more holding out on those hobble-ware downgrades masquerading as updates.

5. Sony-BMG can install and use backdoors in the copy protection software or media player to "enforce their rights" against you, at any time, without notice. And Sony-BMG disclaims any liability if this "self help" crashes your computer, exposes you to security risks, or any other harm.

6. The EULA says Sony-BMG will never be liable to you for more than $5.00. That's right, no matter what happens, you can't even get back what you paid for the CD.

7. If you file for bankruptcy, you have to delete all the music on your computer. Seriously.

8. You have no right to transfer the music on your computer, even along with the original CD.

9. Forget about using the music as a soundtrack for your latest family photo slideshow, or mash-ups, or sampling. The EULA forbids changing, altering, or make derivative works from the music on your computer.

So this is what Sony-BMG thinks we should be allowed to do with the music on the CDs that we purchase from them? No word yet about whether Sony-BMG will be offering a "patch" for this legalese rootkit. I'm not holding my breath.

A BBC article noting six (6) class action law suits against Sony so far:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4430608.stm

There's also a shareware program that will allow you to do what you like with the hacked Sony 'audio CD's. The app is called AnyDVD by slysoft. It is Windows only:

http://www.slysoft.com/en/anydvd.html

Someone on a Yahoo group had this to say about it:
"Trial version breaks after 21 days. $36 when bought on its own. They offer a bundle with their other software that cuts down the price. Or, you could just not buy Sony's crap. Many commentators are noting that this sort of customer abuse only makes the alternative of illegal downloading more appealing. Good work Sony."

Ok, so I just realized they were joking about this one, but it's still scary considering the whole CD plot:
http://www.bbspot.com/News/2005/11/sony_photo_sharing.html

[ Edited by: vintagegirl 2005-11-18 21:09 ]

Thanks for pointing this out!

It looks like Sony has started their exchange program.
Here's their website with a complete list of the "infected" CDs.
http://www.upsrow.com/sonybmg/

Here's some more info from winxp news:

Microsoft has included detection and cleanup of the Sony rootkit in their malicious software removal tool (MSRT), which is updated monthly to handle new threats. Sony has released a service pack to remove the cloaking technology, which you can download at:
http://cp.sonybmg.com/xcp/english/updates.html

However, the patch itself can create problems and recommends that you uninstall the software manually. Instructions on how to do so are here:
http://www.sysinternals.com/blog/2005/11/sony-no-more-rootkit-for-now.html

Experts say the rootkit has probably been installed on at least half a million computers.

On 2005-11-22 11:52, Hakalugi wrote:

Experts say the rootkit has probably been installed on at least half a million computers.

Including some governmental systems, from what I've read.

Leave it to Tiki Centralites. I have been having a problem with some CDs in my computer. Yesterday I finally noticed the pile of CDs I was trying to re-copy because of the problems were all SONY! I immediately went to Tiki Central to post a question about it and Y'all are all over the problem. What happens here is when I try to copy them for my ipod or to make a comp CD is the music has all sorts of weird clicks. I guess I could run a line in from a stereo and simply re record it all that way, but what an f-ing drag. Any news on this or ways around it?