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December 22, 2005
Sony Must Think We're Stupid
"News.com is reporting that the Texas attorney general is expanding the allegations against Sony. It seems the software would install even if users declined the EULA. From the article: 'The Texas attorney general said on Wednesday that he added a new claim to a lawsuit charging Sony BMG Music Entertainment with violating the state's laws on deceptive trade practices by hiding 'spyware' on its compact discs ... The new charges brought by Abbott contend that MediaMax software used by Sony BMG to thwart illegal copying of music on CDs violated state laws because it was downloaded even if users rejected a license agreement.'"
Did they think nobody would ever find out? If you haven't heard, Sony has landed in a heap of trouble with us in the IT and software industry over its spyware. It just violates so much of the culture of us programmers. It's one thing to put in DRM but a rootkit? That's spit in the face.
It's going to be a very long time before I put any trust in Sony content or software on the computer side.
Posted by mbowen at December 22, 2005 09:54 AM
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Comments
This is the first time I heard of this and I have to say the "surprise-factor" is disappointingly absent. Can we really be that surprised when a major corporate conglomerate--especially one so inextricably enmeshed in billions of dollars of losses-to-come with their music business--ends up stooping as low as the worst scoundrels of online activity? Can there be anything worse?
The irony is so fascinating. Here is a major company in a battle against "thieves" who were taking what was not theirs (copyrighted music). Low & Behold, the moral corporation trying to protect its profits ends up doing the most deceitful and intrusive act there is online (i.e. installing spyware)! Wow. I don't know whether to laugh or just shake my head in disappointment.
Thanks for reporting--I just found this blog of yours and am extremely impressed both with the intellectual rigor as well as the cultural chill. Right on.
Keep up the great work!
Posted by: Drug Rehab at December 27, 2005 12:25 AM