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Sony Rootkit Allegedly Contains LGPL Software
Deaths Hand writes "According to this Dutch article the Sony DRM software (or rootkit, if you may prefer) contains code from the LAME MP3 encoder project, which is licensed under the LGPL. However, the source code has not also been distrbuted, hence breaching the license. Here is an english translation of the page." So apparently Sony violates your privacy to create a backdoor onto your machine using code that violates an Open Source license. This story just keeps getting stranger.
Someone should send a takedown notice to the Sony corporation.
If they'd gone Open Source from the start with their rootkit, the community could have contributed bug fixes and improvements. Even their competitors could have gotten involved, resulting in a truely powerful bug-free rootkit for use by everyone.
One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
I knew something was up when I saw that Aibo perched at my keyboard when I woke up this morning.
Next thing you know, they'll be after our precious bodily fluids.
- Sony rootkit eats kittens?
- Sony rootkit throws momma from the train?
- Sony rootkit spawns Darth Vader?
- Sony rootkit deflates tires of soccer moms?
- Sony rootkit steals cookies from girl scouts?
- Sony rootkit cheats at final exams?
- Sony rootkit pours hot grits down Natalie Portman's pants?
This is the problem with the viral nature of the GPL and even the LGPL licenses and is why you should really consider using BSD licensed software in your DRM rootkits in the future. Screw the FSF!
$sys$README ?