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Music Industry Backlash Against Sony Rootkit

Foobar of Borg writes "The Associated Press describes how backlash from Sony's Rootkit CDs is causing problems for the music industry. The problem is two-fold: (1) the inherent technological problem of trying to prevent anyone from copying anything and (2) letting lawyers make technical decisions when (from the article) 'Lawyers don't have any better understanding of technology than a cow does algebra.'" More from the article: "'I think they've set back audio CD protection by years,' said Richard M. Smith, an Internet privacy and security consultant. 'Nobody will want to pull a Sony now.' Phil Leigh, analyst for Inside Digital Media, said the debacle shows just how reluctant the labels are to change their business model to reflect the distribution powers -- good and bad -- of the Internet. He believes that rather than adopting technological methods to try to stop unauthorized copying of music, record companies need to do more to remove the incentive for piracy."

12 of 400 comments (clear)

  1. Wait a minute by Krast0r · · Score: 4, Funny

    So the Sony rootkit is BAD?! This needs more coverage.

    --
    Matthew Grint Midnight Artists
    1. Re:Wait a minute by JustOK · · Score: 3, Funny

      scan for $joke$

      --
      rewriting history since 2109
  2. Remove incentive? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    "need to do more to remove the incentive for piracy".

    Like say, making shit music that no-one would want to pirate? Ugh, too late :|

  3. If the RIAA ran other industries.... by Newer+Guy · · Score: 5, Funny

    We'd be paying $1500.00 for a coast to coast airline ticket.

    There'd be no interstate trucking industry. All freight would go by rail and canal.

    All television would be black and white. There'd be no VCR's (let alone PVR's!).

    All radio would be AM.

    Telephones would all be dial. Long distance calls would be $2.50/minute.

    We'd all still be using slide rules.

    There would be no foreign cars in the U.S.

    There would be no sources of alternative energy (wiond, solar, etc.) whatsoever.

    And on and on. The RIAA wants to maintain the status quo at any cost. They have had ten years to adapt and have resisted at every turn. They all likely believe in Landrew (save us, save us, Landrew!).

    They are pathetic.
    1. Re:If the RIAA ran other industries.... by TubeSteak · · Score: 4, Funny
      We'd all still be using slide rules
      Forget your slide rule.
      /.'ers are hardcore
      Real men use the abacus to do math.

      Slide-Rule using pansy.
      --
      [Fuck Beta]
      o0t!
    2. Re:If the RIAA ran other industries.... by xeon4life · · Score: 3, Funny

      They'd also be blocking all VOIP calls, peer-to-peer call sessions, Skype, and...oh...wait... :-/

      --
      Real programmers can write assembly code in any language. -- Larry Wall
  4. This rootkit will be remembered... by Hymer · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...as the first and probably only rootkit wich has done something good.

  5. Re:hmm anti-lawyer FUD by Crash+Culligan · · Score: 5, Funny
    'Lawyers don't have any better understanding of technology than a cow does algebra.'
    Is that right? [Please see parent comment for link]

    That's why I like to avoid absolute statements and generalizations: all it takes is one case to refute, even though the statement may be accurate for the majority and there may only be one or two cases that can refute it. It's like what they say about congressmen: the dishonest 534 make the rest look bad.

    Still, wouldn't it be cool to discover that one supersmart cow? And kill it? And eat it and learn algebra? Mmmmmmm!

    --
    You cannot truly appreciate Dilbert until you read it in the original Klingon.
  6. US Patent no. 62265781337 by Mishtara2001 · · Score: 5, Funny

    A cow doing algebra

    Dir sirs,
    The suggested apparatus is a sentient, grass-eating organism ("Cow"), that has or will be taught complex mathematical operations ("Algebra"), with or without the aid of various computational devices.

    I intend to patent this "invention" and then go on and "licence" it to all cattle grows in the planet, which will have to pay or face my formidable legal team. In fact, I have already hired an "Intellectual property" law firm, who has assured me that I am loosing $5.6B every day - literally being stolen out of my pocket, and the plates of my children, by greedy farmers who will not respect the foundations of our economy.

    Moreover, said lawyers have promised me that the USPTO and the courts will share their (my) view that every cow grazing grass is in fact performing complex calculations, probably for some foreign power like Iraq, or worse, Europe.

    All the best,
    Edgar Bronfman.

    --
    "667 - Neighbour of the beast"
  7. You think you have problems! by pegr · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Sony, in fact, tried discs that contained data near the perimeter of the CD instructing a computer's hard drive not to look for audio tracks."

    Man, that's nothing... I remember when that Kid Rock CD instructed my hard drive to score some weed and a couple of hookers! Try explaining that to your wife!

  8. Re:hmm anti-lawyer FUD by rbochan · · Score: 3, Funny

    The problem with lawyers is that 99% of them give the rest a bad name.

    --
    ...Rob
    The American Dream isn't an SUV and a house in the suburbs; it's Don't Tread On Me.
  9. Re:What would be good... by Lord_Dweomer · · Score: 3, Funny
    Let me guess.....you have a set of Monster cables too dontcha....

    --
    Buy Steampunk Clothing Online!