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Texas Sues Sony BMG over Rootkit

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the hate-to-see-sony-boardmeetings dept.

Mr. Sketch writes "According to Yahoo!, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott 'filed a civil lawsuit on Monday against Sony BMG Music Entertainment for including "spyware" software on its media player designed to thwart music copying. [...] Texas is seeking civil penalties of $100,000 per violation of the state's Consumer Protection Against Computer Spyware Act, which was enacted earlier this year. "Sony has engaged in a technological version of cloak and dagger deceit against consumers by hiding secret files on their computers," Abbott said in a statement.'"

11 of 703 comments (clear)

  1. So, um... by brilinux · · Score: 5, Funny

    Don't mess with Texas?

    1. Re:So, um... by mattsucks · · Score: 5, Funny

      Don't root Texas.

  2. First Prime Factorization Post by aldeng · · Score: 5, Funny

    According to Yahoo!, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott 'filed a civil lawsuit on Monday against Sony BMG Music Entertainment for including "spyware" software on its media player designed to thwart music copying. [...] Texas is seeking civil penalties of $2 * 2 * 2 * 2 * 2 * 5 * 5 * 5 * 5 * 5 per violation of the state's Consumer Protection Against Computer Spyware Act, which was enacted earlier this year. "Sony has engaged in a technological version of cloak and dagger deceit against consumers by hiding secret files on their computers," Abbott said in a statement.

  3. That takes balls.... by steveshaw · · Score: 5, Funny
    which are exceedingly difficult to find in a politician these days.

    Unfortunately, his opponent in the next election can back the Brinks truck up to Sony HQ at his convenience.

  4. Re:Wow, that's gonna be a nice check.. by bassman2k · · Score: 5, Funny

    What is the state of Texas going to do with 5 million coupons for a free Sony CD?

  5. Re:Canada should sue too by Scrameustache · · Score: 5, Funny

    I feel another law suit comming.

    Or, this being Canada, a stern talking-to.

    --

    You can't take the sky from me...

  6. Sweet. by Ph33r+th3+g(O)at · · Score: 5, Funny

    I hope the Texas Attorney General extracts hundreds of millions from Sony. And then that the other states' attorneys general smell blood and jump on the bandwagon, just like the tobacco settlement. Imagine Sony forced to fund a foundation that makes commercials warning youth of the dangers of DRM :).

    --
    I too have felt the cold finger of injustice.
  7. Re:Texan way..... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Why do people think Bush is (1) stupid; (2) evil; and (3) has all sorts of magical powers?

    Well, those who believe #1 and #2 must believe in #3, how else would they explain how Bush won in the last election despite #1 and #2?

  8. Re:Texan way..... by failure-man · · Score: 5, Funny

    It got modded as funny! Now that's ironic . . . . . . . .

  9. Re:Texan way..... by Helios1182 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Unless you live in New Jersey or Chicago, then you don't even need a heartbeat.

  10. Re:Texas law on lethal force in protecting propert by Sponge+Bath · · Score: 5, Funny
    Sony obviously just needs some killin', let it be.

    Sounds like a John Lennon song...
    except for the killin' part.