SunnComm Says Pointing to Shift Key 'Possible Felony'

The Importance of writes "A couple of weeks ago BMG released an audio CD with a new type of DRM. Earlier this week, a computer science graduate student at Princeton wrote a report showing the DRM was ineffective - it could easily be defeated by use of the 'shift' key. The stock of the DRM company (SunnComm) has since fallen by 20%. Now, SunnComm plans to sue the student under the DMCA and claim that SunnComm's reputation has been falsely damaged. According to SunnComm's CEO, 'No matter what their credentials or rationale, it is wrong to use one's knowledge and the cover of academia to facilitate piracy and theft of digital property.'"

Comments

Perfect test case...

[citabjockey]

to see if DMCA really has merit in the courts. This is so nutty its unbelievable.

Shareholders need to sue THEM...

[MadCow42]

For gross incompetence... !

Please tell me this is a "Friday FUnny" (ahead of schedule) or something like that...

However it could be a good thing: if the DMCA is used to protect this type of trash, people will see it for what it is and MAYBE the law will be shot down for being too broad by protecting dumb-ass business models.

If the DMCA prevents me from telling someone how to use A BASIC FEATURE OF WINDOWS to prevent malware from being run on my computer, then I'm moving to a different country. (Oh wait, I already did... my VISA ran out!) :)

MadCow.

New, equally robust copy protection idea

[Baron_Yam]

Try telling people that they're not allowed to make copies, or allow copies to be made.

If anyone lets loose with the secret that hearing a request doesn't force one to obey it, sue 'em under the DMCA. After that, anyone who doesn't obey you is obviously using a circumvention device (their brain), which you can have confiscated by the authorities.

From Microsoft's website

[Bull999999]

I guess it's time for MS to get sued! Below is for Win 9x, and ME. SUMMARY

This article describes how to disable the feature that allows CD-ROMs and audio compact discs (CDs) to run automatically when you insert them in your CR-ROM drive.

MORE INFORMATION

How to Disable the Feature That Allows CD-ROMs and Audio CDs to Run Automatically

To disable the feature that allows CD-ROMs and audio CDs to run automatically:

Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click System.

Double-click the CDROM branch on the Device Manager tab, and then double-click the entry for your CD-ROM drive.

On the Settings tab, click to clear the Auto Insert Notification check box.

Click OK, click Close, and then click Yes when you are prompted to restart your computer.

Executive dumping?

[realdpk]

How on earth did someone manage to sell about 250,000 shares for a dollar a piece (that's what it looks like anyways) when the stock is worth a dime.

SunnComm breaking UK law ?

[dackroyd]

Can someone please remind me why this is not a criminal act of sabotage ?

Paraphrasing via the Register http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/6/33298.html:

"He found that when the disc was first inserted, it auto-installs a device driver that subsequently interferes with attempts to
copying the songs on the CD.

'"The driver examines each CD placed in the machine, and when it recognizes the protected title, it actively interferes with read
operations on the audio content,'"

From the Computer Misuse Act http://www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts1990/Ukpga_1990001 8_en_2.htm#mdiv3:

"3.-(1) A person is guilty of an offence if-
(a) he does any act which causes an unauthorised modification of the contents of any computer; and
(b) at the time when he does the act he has the requisite intent and the requisite knowledge.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1)(b) above the requisite intent is an intent to cause a modification of the contents of any
computer and by so doing-
(a) to impair the operation of any computer;"

Unauthorised modification - check.
Impairs the operation of the computer - check.
Requisite intent and knowledge - check.

But it is of course a crime being committed by a large company, so I guess it doesn't really count.....

If anyone can tell me of any CDs that use this technology and are available in the UK, please let me know so that I can report these EvilDoers to the appropriate police department.