Sony Sues Rootkit Maker

flyboy974 writes "Sony BMG Music Entertainment is suing the company that developed anti-piracy software for its CDs, claiming the technology was defective and cost the record company millions of dollars to settle consumer complaints and government investigations. The software in question is the MediaMax CD protection system, widely derided as a rootkit. Sony BMG is seeking to recover some $12 million in damages from the Phoenix-based technology company, according to court papers filed July 3."

Comments

$12,000,000 is peanuts.

[Anonymous Coward]

Being able to pass the blame to someone else is priceless.

Responsibility

[fastest fascist]

Seems to me like the responsibility for the functioning of a product should fall upon the distributor. Of course, you could ask if Sony is suing more for the money or as a PR measure to try to shrug off some of the blame for the whole debacle.

Re:Responsibility

[AvitarX]

Sony was responsible for distribution to the public.

Now they are trying to hold someone responsible for distributing to them.

Re:Responsibility

[toleraen]

It was Sony's responsibility. Hence they were sued by the consumers for it. However, if the company provided Sony with software that was not fully functional (overly functional?) without disclosing it, it's definitely court time. The PR certainly doesn't hurt though.

I bet they knew but didn't understand

[jjeffrey]

I'd be prepared to put money on Sony losing this case. I'm sure we've all seen this sort of thing before. Media Max will have warned Sony that the approach had problems, they will have a mail chain demonstrating that, but Sony's management will have bullishly insisted on the security features it offered while ignoring or not bothering to understand the warnings it contained about the risks. What are the chances even their own technical advisors internally warned against it?

Re:I bet they knew but didn't understand

[that IT girl]

That's the first thing that came to my mind--it's ridiculous for Sony to claim that they had no idea what it was going to do or that they actually thought nobody would care. Remember what Sony president Tony Hesse said about it back in late 2005?

http://www.betanews.com/article/Sony_President_Roo tkit_of_No_Concern/1131475197

Suuuuuure, Tony. That kind of flip attitude about it will not be exactly convincing.

Defective by Design

[Synchis]

Yet another great example of a Product with DRM being Defective by Design! Join the movement: Defective By Design

I hope Sony read the EULA...

[sjs132]

"Section 938.334 Sub W.

By agreeing to use this product to proctect your music CD's from piracy you also agree to hold us immune from any lawsuits, incurred directly or indirectly, due to your customers not liking this product."


oops... Guess they should read those EULA's VERY CAREFULLY...

At least that is what these companies would say to us...

":{ Grr...

Re:I'm confused

[Craig Maloney]

I believe the formula works like this:

Sony releases DRM protected discs = -5,000 pts.
DRM Discs contain rootkit = -10,000 pts.
Sony denies any wrongdoing = -60,000 pts.
Sony realizes mistake = +100 pts.
Sony releases patch = +1,000 pts.
Public realizes cure worse than the disease = -5,000 pts.
Sony recalls discs = +10,000 pts.
Sony releases BluRay and PS3 = 0 pts.
Sony sues DRM Manufacturer = + 1pts.

So, in total, Sony is 68,899 points in the hole. I think its safe to say they're still pariahs here.

Re:I'm confused

[networkBoy]

A company to hate I think that's microsoft around here, though Sony is up there too I guess.

Nothing wrong with preventing copy yes there is something wrong. I do not want to buy a song from iTunes for a buck that I already have on disk, just to listen to it on my iPod, or better yet, I don't have an iPod, so iTunes is useless to me, and AllOfMP3 is shuttered so I can't get MP3's there, thus they have to come from my CD or from file-sharing as my only two choices.

The company they hired pushed faulty software Actually I think this was a different company than the root kit, but since most everyone who understands the media's goal with DRM agrees it's defective by design, then yes I agree.

As a person who has used sony programs and devices for years ditto, though no more and never again if at all avoidable

I can attest that normally their EULA's are in your face and pretty annoying. This case just seems out of character for the company. betamax licensing was just as bad, no it's not that far out of character. Just in the consumers face nowdays.
The Sony I used to love is dead. Management changes have turned it from a pioneering company into a slogging lumbering hulk that only wants more money, not customers' loyalty.
-nB

Re:Sony BMG does nothing to hurt their reputation

[BakaHoushi]

But Big Brother said it would enable us. You have been reported to the Party.

Also, we've always been at war with Eastasia.

Re:I'm confused

[riceboy50]

I do not want to buy a song from iTunes for a buck that I already have on disk, just to listen to it on my iPod, or better yet, I don't have an iPod, so iTunes is useless to me I am tired of this argument. It is just plain incorrect.

1. You do not have to buy music from the iTunes store in order to listen to it on your iPod. If you rip the music into iTunes from your CD, it will be in the AAC/MP4 standard sans DRM.
2. iTunes does not require an iPod or the iTunes store in order to be a useful application. It is just a media jukebox that can rip and burn CDs. However, it can also purchase music from the iTunes store and copy files onto an iPod.

When are people going to stop deriding iTunes and the iPod on these grounds?