President of RIAA Says Sony-BMG Did Nothing Wrong

Zellis writes "In a press conference held on Nov 18 Cary Sherman, the president of the RIAA, stated in reference to Sony BMG's "rootkit" software that "there is nothing unusual about technology being used to protect intellectual property." According to Sherman, the problem with Sony BMG's XCP DRM software was simply that "the technology they used contained a security vulnerability of which they were unaware". He goes on to praise Sony's "responsible" attitude in handling the problem, saying "how many times that software applications created the same problem? Lots. I wonder whether they've taken as aggressive steps as SonyBMG has when those vulnerabilities were discovered, or did they just post a patch on the Internet?" It seems that the latest spin is to portray the Sony rootkit as no more of an issue than a software coding error that unintentionally creates a security hole. Will they get away with it among the non-technical public?" Arguably, Sherman is right -- but I enjoy much more the fact that this whole r00tkit fiasco has set DRM back by years. Gogogo poor implementations!

Comments

Markets always trump cartels eventually

[dada21]

Sherman would be correct -- in a free market. Fortunately for us, those who rely on helping create freedom-reducing laws eventually find themselves violating their own creations.

The real dilemma for content creators was their inability to collude together on a newer standard to replace CD, and now it is too late. Wouldn't you be mad if your cartel couldn't react in time to new situations?

The simple fact that any audible signal can be recorded is important, yet the record companies still seem blind that they have a viable MP3 market because most consumers (with jobs) would rather pay $1 (with Jobs) than spend 20 minutes finding a song illegally or even bothering to rip their own CDs. I have more than a few friends who've rebought albums from iTunes that they own on CD. $10, to them, is worth the time.

Does the RIAA need to continue the "piracy is wrong" campaign? Yes! But that should be the limit. Let honest people know they're not reimbursing others for the content they pirate, and I believe you'll see people continue to pay. I believe people are generally good and moral (99% of the time even a thief acts in a good way).

Do record labels need copy protection and lawsuits? Not against consumers, not even the guy seeding a torrent to hundreds of others. They need to re-evaluate their market and see that people will pay and more people are becoming more technologically inclined so even at a lower price they can see bigger profits.

Nonetheless I don't think we need to worry about the RIAA or rootkits or whatever much longer. The new generation (10-16) of kids recording today are already using the next distribution system (PureVolume and MySpace). I know of a few young bands already making decent money selling very professional CDs by promoting their music online for free.

I'm starting to filter the RIAA news (at least mentally) since it isn't news to me. They had a great run of 70 years, and just like gaslamp lighters, their time has come.

RIP A CD, R.I.P. R.I.A.A.

Re:Markets always trump cartels eventually

[endemoniada]

You really hit the spot here. I, myself, have no problem supporting the artists by buying their albums and merchandise. I do, however, have a problem with not being able to give 1 cent to the artist, without HAVING to give $1 to the record company. THIS, ladies and gentlemen, is the theft we should all be discussing.

Re:Markets always trump cartels eventually

[endemoniada]

Yes, I do believe that THEY are running the webstore. Several of the bands I listen to run their own labels, and contract few, if any, other bands besides themselves. I also happen to know a few bands that follow this precise strategy. They sell lots of albums at their shows, and 100% of the money goes directly to them. No middleman, no excessive advertising (most of it is for free on the internet) and yet they almost make a living playing music.

If the RIAA are correct, how is this even possible? All RIAA wants is for artists to be dependant on record labels, so that they can cash in more money.

Think about it. If none of the money went to record labels, wouldn't the band be able to finance themselves? With the breakthrough of the internet, advertising is cheap, next to free. You can distribute music without even having to pay for the CD-materials! There is no reason we should give most of our money to record labels anymore. They're as extinct as dinosaurs, as far as I'm concerned. Couple all this with the fact that it's no longer a matter if whether people want to buy, or download. It's now a matter of whether people want to buy-and-also-get-their-computers-taken-over-withou t-having-any-knowledge-of-it, or download it.

Commercial rootkit?

[GGardner]

The most surprising thing to me about this whole affair is that there are companies selling rootkits. Which makes me wonder -- who else is buying them? Who knew this was a legal commercial enterprise? Can we get a list of their other customers?

They did nothing wrong

[JBlaze03]

Never mind that their software contained copyrighted code

Anyone surprised?

[blindcoder]

Actually, I'm only surprised it took the RIAA so long to stand in line with Sony on this publicly.

RIAA Hates its Customers

[Doc Ruby]

"Nothing unusual" != "nothing wrong". Sherman's response that Sony's crimes against its customers aren't unusual makes it worse. He defends the crimes by saying they're standard practice. He should get frogmarched to prison after a RICO case shows he conspires with the media cartel to commit these crimes, and to cover for them.

It's a freaking rain storm!

[ThatGeek]

We've sold off industry, education and science. Looks like our business leaders are now selling their soul. Sure they've done bad things in the past, but their actions are now so blatant. They don't even try to hide what they do any more; they just "pee on our legs and tell us that it's raining".

At what point can we say that business has gone to far? When PR boys start trying to convince us that it's ok for them to install stuff to spy on us? I'm waiting for the brain implants and mandatory goggles to "protect their intellectual privacy rights".

Yuck.

Logic

[Experiment 626]

Given that:

1) The Sony rootkit contains pirated open source code, and

2) The RIAA finds nothing wrong about the Sony rootkit

It follows that RIAA does not consider the piracy of copyrighted material wrong... Well, I'm off to go copy a few CDs, with the cartel's blessing this time.

Re:Cary Sherman speaks truth.

[Anonymous Coward]

Saying that 'because software you choose to install may lead to security leaks make it okay that software that installs itself without warning opens up security leaks' is like saying 'because sleeping with someone you choose to may give you herpies then it is okay that someone who rapes you gives you herpies'.

No, Sherman is not right

[Dr. Blue]

To pass this off as a bug "of which they were unaware" is horribly inaccurate.

The software hides itself -- by design, not as a bug.

The software makes itself difficult to remove -- by design, not as a bug.

The software places itself in fundamental system areas, like accessing the CD, compromising those areas -- by design, not as a bug.

No, the problem isn't a bug. The problem is a company thinking they have the right to get into places on my system that they have no business being, and then hiding to make it difficult to clean.

A common component of all anti-spyware legislation and attempts that I'm aware of is that everything has to include a reasonable and effective uninstall procedure, that clears out the software. Sony didn't have this -- again by design.

Evil Pirates! Putting honest people out of work !

[Chaffar]

"And for generations, students have spent their hard-earned dollars on the music they love in the local college record store. How many of those stores are left now? Makes you realize just what the impact of illegal downloading can be, and why we've taken the actions we have."

Causal fallacy.

It's not like he doesn't know it, but why bother building proper arguments when you can get away with absolute b*llshit and still be quoted as a respectable source? I couldn't finish reading the whole article, and to compare file-sharers to bank robbers and shoplifters was just insulting.

Cary Sherman: Obviously, anyone who has stopped downloading (or uploading) illegally will not get sued.

Thank you, Cary Sherman, for your infinite compassion towards us petty thieves, we are not worthy of such.