Comments on: Sony BMG’s MediaMax Software Installs Even If You Decline http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/2244 Independent Tech News and Product Reviews from former VP and head of CNET.com and Longtime Computer Shopper Columnist, Alice Hill author of the popular "Hard Edge" column. Originally named AliceandBill.com. Thu, 04 Dec 2008 01:07:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: 0c2bef85ee9f http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/2244#comment-763790 Mon, 12 May 2008 08:31:44 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/2244#comment-763790 <strong>0c2bef85ee9f...</strong> 0c2bef85ee9f7837cebe... 0c2bef85ee9f…

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]]> by: » Sony BMG Sues Over MediaMax Copy Protection » Blog Archive   Alice Hill’s Real Tech News - Independent Tech http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/2244#comment-227694 Thu, 12 Jul 2007 15:23:29 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/2244#comment-227694 [...] In 2005 there were quite a few issues over Sony CD copy protection. Although the one that drew the most attention was the rootkit-like XCP copy protection, there was also the MediaMax copy protection, that installed even when declined, for example. Yesterday Sony sued the company that developed this software, saying it was defective and cost Sony millions. Sony BMG filed a summons in a New York state court against The Amergence Group Inc., formerly SunnComm International, which developed the MediaMax CD copy-protection technology. [...] […] In 2005 there were quite a few issues over Sony CD copy protection. Although the one that drew the most attention was the rootkit-like XCP copy protection, there was also the MediaMax copy protection, that installed even when declined, for example. Yesterday Sony sued the company that developed this software, saying it was defective and cost Sony millions. Sony BMG filed a summons in a New York state court against The Amergence Group Inc., formerly SunnComm International, which developed the MediaMax CD copy-protection technology. […]

]]> by: Larry http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/2244#comment-5942 Thu, 01 Dec 2005 18:10:24 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/2244#comment-5942 I have never liked or bought Sony anything.. I just never liked their different ideas about the media stick that is Sony only also their audio "used" to be a sony format. If it was Sony it plays well with other Sony thingys, but not so lucky trying to get it to cross the border into UN-Sony land. NOW with this Sony/BMG thing I know I'll never buy/ use anything Sony/BMG!! IMHO they sunk their own ship!!!! I have never liked or bought Sony anything.. I just never liked their different ideas about the media stick that is Sony only also their audio “used” to be a sony format. If it was Sony it plays well with other Sony thingys, but not so lucky trying to get it to cross the border into UN-Sony land. NOW with this Sony/BMG thing I know I’ll never buy/ use anything Sony/BMG!! IMHO they sunk their own ship!!!!

]]> by: Robert Sharl http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/2244#comment-5846 Wed, 30 Nov 2005 20:49:19 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/2244#comment-5846 I agree prison would be harsh, though my tongue was only slightly in my cheek when I wrote that. I do believe though that Sony have employed 'the tactics and ethics of a (black hat) hacker' (to borrow somewhat loosely from Steve Jobs' comments about Real). If what this article alleges is really the case then Sony have produced a trojan (it says one thing and does another). I'm also pretty sure they'd be pushing for a jail sentence if someone wrote something that screwed around with <em>their</em> hardware, and in most cases executive ignorance isn't usually considered a credible excuse. I do agree that we need to think very carefully about purchasing Sony products, though they're such a diversified corporation that I'm not certain boycotting one division would directly influence another. I haven't bought anything Sony recently anyway, though I do admire some of their electronics products (particularly their HD mini DV cams). I absolutely won't buy a copy-protected CD (and I buy a fair few cds). How can people most clearly communicate their abhorrence of such tactics to Sony? I'm still undecided on that. I agree prison would be harsh, though my tongue was only slightly in my cheek when I wrote that. I do believe though that Sony have employed ‘the tactics and ethics of a (black hat) hacker’ (to borrow somewhat loosely from Steve Jobs’ comments about Real). If what this article alleges is really the case then Sony have produced a trojan (it says one thing and does another). I’m also pretty sure they’d be pushing for a jail sentence if someone wrote something that screwed around with their hardware, and in most cases executive ignorance isn’t usually considered a credible excuse.

I do agree that we need to think very carefully about purchasing Sony products, though they’re such a diversified corporation that I’m not certain boycotting one division would directly influence another. I haven’t bought anything Sony recently anyway, though I do admire some of their electronics products (particularly their HD mini DV cams). I absolutely won’t buy a copy-protected CD (and I buy a fair few cds). How can people most clearly communicate their abhorrence of such tactics to Sony? I’m still undecided on that.

]]> by: Calvin http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/2244#comment-5831 Wed, 30 Nov 2005 18:29:22 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/2244#comment-5831 Robert - Prison is a bit harsh, particularly considering something like this was likely presented to a VP as a little bullet on a presentation. Judging by the ignorant response from the executive level, someone doesn't know what is happening here. Bill - DRM can work on entertainment media. Licensing and activation keys, employed by such companies as Microsoft and various PC gaming developers, use it with few problems for those who follow instructions. The problem is extensibility, portability, and standardization, not DRM. Robert - Prison is a bit harsh, particularly considering something like this was likely presented to a VP as a little bullet on a presentation. Judging by the ignorant response from the executive level, someone doesn’t know what is happening here.

Bill - DRM can work on entertainment media. Licensing and activation keys, employed by such companies as Microsoft and various PC gaming developers, use it with few problems for those who follow instructions. The problem is extensibility, portability, and standardization, not DRM.

]]> by: Bill M http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/2244#comment-5825 Wed, 30 Nov 2005 17:32:17 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/2244#comment-5825 Robert -- I agree with your premise that we have to make Sony feel the pain. However, jail time for an expendable vice president won't do that. A global boycott of all Sony products will do it, even if we can only drop sales by 1%. That means ALL PRODUCTS, even the PSP and PS3 (when it ships) will sit on the shelves for a while. Money talks, but only as long as you keep it in your wallet. The basic lesson has to be that DRM cannot ever work on entertainment media. If it can be played, it can be copied. Sony was going after additional revenue, not IP protection, with MediaMax and XCP. Robert — I agree with your premise that we have to make Sony feel the pain. However, jail time for an expendable vice president won’t do that. A global boycott of all Sony products will do it, even if we can only drop sales by 1%. That means ALL PRODUCTS, even the PSP and PS3 (when it ships) will sit on the shelves for a while. Money talks, but only as long as you keep it in your wallet.

The basic lesson has to be that DRM cannot ever work on entertainment media. If it can be played, it can be copied. Sony was going after additional revenue, not IP protection, with MediaMax and XCP.

]]> by: Triumph the Insult Dog http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/2244#comment-5819 Wed, 30 Nov 2005 16:31:48 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/2244#comment-5819 Sony I poop on you!!!! Sony I poop on you!!!!

]]> by: Robert Sharl http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/2244#comment-5815 Wed, 30 Nov 2005 12:15:00 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/2244#comment-5815 You're right Calvin. If we're to prevent this sort of corporate abuse simply becoming standard practice then we have to treat it at least as harshly as we would treat an individual miscreant who constructs and knowingly propagates a software trojan or virus. That probably means a prison sentence for the executive(s) who approved the release. You’re right Calvin. If we’re to prevent this sort of corporate abuse simply becoming standard practice then we have to treat it at least as harshly as we would treat an individual miscreant who constructs and knowingly propagates a software trojan or virus. That probably means a prison sentence for the executive(s) who approved the release.

]]> by: Calvin http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/2244#comment-5785 Wed, 30 Nov 2005 03:46:21 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/2244#comment-5785 Until DRM enabled media interface with public services, much like ssl root certs, companies will continue to breed guarded -read: borderline fraudulent- solutions. As bad as the Sony situation is, I'm more concerned that injunctions or fines they may receive, IF they're ruled against, don't severly impact the profitability of this business unit... well, why would they care? Would Sony flinch at a slap on the wrist, change of EULA, and a $250K fine? Not likely, and it sets a baaaad precedent. Until DRM enabled media interface with public services, much like ssl root certs, companies will continue to breed guarded -read: borderline fraudulent- solutions. As bad as the Sony situation is, I’m more concerned that injunctions or fines they may receive, IF they’re ruled against, don’t severly impact the profitability of this business unit… well, why would they care? Would Sony flinch at a slap on the wrist, change of EULA, and a $250K fine? Not likely, and it sets a baaaad precedent.

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