Sony BMG Settles New York DRM Lawsuit

Sony BMG wishes it had never heard the word rootkit as they have agreed to a proposed settlement, in a lawsuit filed against them, in New York according to a news report by PC Pro. The root of the problem, so to speak, has to do with software that was hidden and imbedded within certain music CDs sold by Sony BMG. The software, known as a rootkit, was intended to prevent unauthorized duplication of CD contents, but also opened unexpected security holes in computers which played the music disks. The secret software caused an uproar with consumers and legal analysts who vehemently questioned the legality of the rootkits being loaded onto their PCs without their knowledge of permission. If the settlement is approved by a court judge, Sony will have to compensate individuals who purchased their music CDs with XCP or MediaMax DRMs. The terms will provide either cash, downloads or both, depending on which DRM (digital rights management) program was resident on the music CD. The suit also calls on Sony BMG to, among other things; provide software for the removal of the DRMs, limit their use of digital rights programs on their CDs, and recall XCP CDs.
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