Post by kim on Dec 30, 2005 14:56:06 GMT -5
Consumers appear to have won their battle against music giant Sony BMG over spyware installed on millions of CDs.
The world’s second largest music company reached at tentative agreement Thursday with record buyers, who filed a class action lawsuit over the copy protection software.
Though the company’s decision to install XCP (extended copy protection) and MediaMax antipiracy programs on its discs was aimed at preventing illegal copying, consumers complained the technology allowed Sony BMG to track their listening habits, and may have left their computers open to hacking.
Among the artists whose CDs were equipped with the cutting-edge software – Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong and Celine Dion.
Under the tentative settlement, which still has to be approved by a federal judge, consumers would be able to exchange their current CDs for versions that don’t hold the spyware.
Also, the record company would be required to provide special software to help uninstall XCP and MediaMax from machines, and stop using the technology on future CDs produced.
As an incentive, consumers would also be given a cash payment of $7.50 US and one free album download from a list of more than 200 options. Or, they could download three albums instead.
Another lawsuit against Sony BMG was filed by the Texas attorney general last month over claims the company violated state laws on deceptive trade practices by concealing the spyware on its CDs.
The label recalled the discs with XCP in November.
December 30, 2005
Just goes to show ya...2 wrongs don't make a right...especially when you have the power that a corporation like SONY corp. has. I'm sure though that next time they won't be as blatant in their approach...but they will retalliate.
Personally, I will never knowingly purchase any of SONY's products. May be difficult considering they have a hand in many products and corporate affairs these days.
Consider though that up until recently, I believed in their products and have some of their wares in my domicile...but to me, this is just pure espionage. Sell me a cd and then hack my puter???
I don't think so. In fact, I have a nice little SONY cd player that doesn't work too well...think I'll send it back to them COD with a nice little letter indicating the options of where to "shove" the device and also how much I love their business savy in the way in which they treat their customers who have bought and paid for their garbage period and now think they can control us and how we use the stuff.
I wonder what's next?...SONY cameras coming out with a disclaimer stating that "we aren't allowed to freeze images in time" and all pictures need to be viewed once then discarded for fear that we might send them to a friend or relative for subsequent and future veiwing???...let alone make prints for an album!!!
Funny though how companies such as this feel free to ask for your personal information up front at the cash register upon any and all purchases in their corporate stores so that they can in fact pass along that critical information to unkown third parties huh???
Now who's breaking the law?
?
Thanks
Kim
The world’s second largest music company reached at tentative agreement Thursday with record buyers, who filed a class action lawsuit over the copy protection software.
Though the company’s decision to install XCP (extended copy protection) and MediaMax antipiracy programs on its discs was aimed at preventing illegal copying, consumers complained the technology allowed Sony BMG to track their listening habits, and may have left their computers open to hacking.
Among the artists whose CDs were equipped with the cutting-edge software – Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong and Celine Dion.
Under the tentative settlement, which still has to be approved by a federal judge, consumers would be able to exchange their current CDs for versions that don’t hold the spyware.
Also, the record company would be required to provide special software to help uninstall XCP and MediaMax from machines, and stop using the technology on future CDs produced.
As an incentive, consumers would also be given a cash payment of $7.50 US and one free album download from a list of more than 200 options. Or, they could download three albums instead.
Another lawsuit against Sony BMG was filed by the Texas attorney general last month over claims the company violated state laws on deceptive trade practices by concealing the spyware on its CDs.
The label recalled the discs with XCP in November.
December 30, 2005
Just goes to show ya...2 wrongs don't make a right...especially when you have the power that a corporation like SONY corp. has. I'm sure though that next time they won't be as blatant in their approach...but they will retalliate.
Personally, I will never knowingly purchase any of SONY's products. May be difficult considering they have a hand in many products and corporate affairs these days.
Consider though that up until recently, I believed in their products and have some of their wares in my domicile...but to me, this is just pure espionage. Sell me a cd and then hack my puter???
I don't think so. In fact, I have a nice little SONY cd player that doesn't work too well...think I'll send it back to them COD with a nice little letter indicating the options of where to "shove" the device and also how much I love their business savy in the way in which they treat their customers who have bought and paid for their garbage period and now think they can control us and how we use the stuff.
I wonder what's next?...SONY cameras coming out with a disclaimer stating that "we aren't allowed to freeze images in time" and all pictures need to be viewed once then discarded for fear that we might send them to a friend or relative for subsequent and future veiwing???...let alone make prints for an album!!!
Funny though how companies such as this feel free to ask for your personal information up front at the cash register upon any and all purchases in their corporate stores so that they can in fact pass along that critical information to unkown third parties huh???
Now who's breaking the law?
?Thanks
Kim