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  1. Member
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    According to this article:
    Sophos's tool will remove this cloaking behaviour but will not remove the software components installed by Sony-BMG, the deletion of which might cause system instability.
    Uncloaking is a good thing, but it doesn't remove the rootkit.

    Separately, and to avoid any confusion, while AnyDvd may allow you to bypass the installed DRM/rootkit so you can still copy the CD, it will not prevent the installation of the rootkit.

    You have to click the OK button before anything is actually installed on your system.
    That would depend on the executable(s) the autorun.inf file is linked to. If the rootkit is installed as part of the player install, and the player installation asks for permission to install, then you are probably correct. However, autorun.inf files can run multiple executables, and there is no requirement for an executable to ask for, or receive permission to do anything. By definition, virus installers don't ask for permission.

    Disabling autorun on your drive(s) will prevent Windows from automatically following the instructions listed in the autorun.inf file on the disk when it's inserted. That's all is does, but in this case, it will absolutely prevent the installation of the rootkit.
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    Originally Posted by AlecWest
    The nightmare of Sony's rootkit software is over ... for now:

    http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/79775/sony-suspends-controversial-cd-production.html
    That's nice, but a lot of harm has already been done. If you run over someone when you are driving drunk, do you think everyone will be happy if you announce that you have stopped driving? What about the person who you hit and seriously injured?
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  3. The Sony Stereo I purchased in 2002 will the the last Sony product I will buy. I'm tired of their proprietary crap and their greedy methods in the name of profit.
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  4. Member Cornucopia's Avatar
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    Originally Posted by SCDVD
    Originally Posted by AlecWest
    The nightmare of Sony's rootkit software is over ... for now:

    http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/79775/sony-suspends-controversial-cd-production.html
    That's nice, but a lot of harm has already been done. If you run over someone when you are driving drunk, do you think everyone will be happy if you announce that you have stopped driving? What about the person who you hit and seriously injured?
    It's worse than that...

    #1 - Sony specifically uses the term "temporary" as regards the suspension of inclusion of this trojan, and elsewhere gives the repeated impression that they'll be re-instituting re-vamped/similar technology again soon.

    #2 - Your driving analogy would be better if it were Sony sending out thousands of "Drunk Driving" crazed Robots, many of which are "still out there on the roads" and have yet to do damage, but are otherwise not easily stoppable. Then Sony says, "We promise we'll stop distribution (no mention of production) of these drunk robots for a while". Sheesh!
    Oh yeah, drunk driving sometimes kills! (here meaning computers)

    Scott
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  5. Member thecoalman's Avatar
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    Bush Administration to Sony: It's your intellectual property -- it's not your computer.

    "It's very important to remember that it's your intellectual property -- it's not your computer. And in the pursuit of protection of intellectual property, it's important not to defeat or undermine the security measures that people need to adopt in these days.


    The Recording Industry Association of America's CEO Mitch Bainwol was in attendance and you knew that these words had to run a shiver down his spine.
    http://www.mp3newswire.net/stories/5002/admonish.html
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  6. Member painkiller's Avatar
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    An article at The Register dated today -

    http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/11/12/sony_suspends_rootkit_drm/

    - indicates that Sony started distributing cds with this DRM of theirs - six months ago.

    Apparently, Sony is now suspending - but not recalling such cds.
    Nor are they offering any sort of an apology.

    Considering the previous post - I get the distinct impression there is a wakeup call more than just brewing.

    Lastly, I like to offer a suggestion concerning this issue.

    Why can't these companies make a seperate product to sell - whose sole function is to prevent copying just their other content/products? Or, collaborate in the devlopment of something that would be akin to something like Net Nanny? Make it known, a standard, an option for the masses.

    Probably parents would prefer something like this - to protect themselves, and keep their kids from d/l stuff that would get them all in trouble?

    Just a mindless thought.
    Whatever doesn't kill me, merely ticks me off. (Never again a Sony consumer.)
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  7. Member thecoalman's Avatar
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    Originally Posted by painkiller
    Why can't these companies make a seperate product to sell - whose sole function is to prevent copying just their other content/products? Or, collaborate in the devlopment of something that would be akin to something like Net Nanny? Make it known, a standard, an option for the masses.
    First they wouldn't be able to sell something like that, I don't see anyone that's going to willingly purchase a product tht's going to cripple their computer. They may install something like that if it was free and in that case I would only think for the reason that you have stated such as to prevent their kids from copying CD's. Possibly for companies....

    Personally I think these compaies are digging themselves a hole they are not going to get out of. How many artists do you think are going to give second thoughts to signing a contract with Sony now? Do you think the Van Zant's are happy with Sony right now? That CD's sales have probably dropped to nothing at least for online purchases at places like Amazon where consumers can read the reviews.

    I think what needs to happen is that the artists need to retake control of their content, destiny etc. Take it out of the hands of these record companies and put it back into the hands of the fans. It's sad to say that a artists career can be made ,broken or even shaped simply on the whim of some guy sitting in office that's just looking at his bottom line.

    I have some friends in a band that did reasonably well and at one point were being looked at by a few lables, they turned them all down because they would have had to reliquish too much control.

    3. What music icons have most influenced your sound, stage persona, crime fighting superhero alter egos, bedroom role play, etc?

    haha, thats a wierd one. i really dont know. basically, my goal is to capture an emotion, turn it into music. if i dont feel something when i listen to music, i dont enjoy it. its hard for me to relate to cookie-cutter pop bands and all the anger-hatred crap going on today because it seems so fake...like what does Korn have to cry about? they're millionares. how many times do bands hop onto an emerging style of music in the hopes of being the band that the competition record company is looking for. a record co. takes a chance on nirvana, they go big, then every other label out there is looking for a nirvana. its pretty pathetic. the market is asking for it, and bands are coming out of the woodwork with the whatever nonsense they can write to sell thier product. thats not why i write music.
    http://www.40lbhead.com/headbutt/article_12.php

    Back on the subject of DRM, I'm for it (obviously not to the extent Sony has taken it). If you have a work you should be able to control how it's used to some extent. DRM may even be the catalyst to get a lot of these artists out from under the feet of these large companies. They'll be able to provide high quality content directly from their own sites without the worry of a single download proliferating into 100,000 copies. There's other advantages as well, for example I want to provide high quality content to an audience for free but want to limit it's use to a single copy. That is great example of where DRM would benefit both parties. I get to provide quality content and the fans get it for free. If they want the copyable version they have to pay.....
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    In Mark Russinovich's blog, he had noted that the DRMServer component of the Sony package "scans the executables corresponding to the running processes on the system every two seconds" but he doesn't list what processes it is scanning for.

    After some research, I found this page by a computer sciences student in Finland. On that page he provides two lists of the programs that are actually being scanned for. Besides the expected CD ripping/burning applications on the lists are:
    DVD Decrypter
    Smart Ripper
    InterVideo DVD Copy
    DvdShrink
    AnyDvd
    ...etc, etc.

    At least at this point, it would appear that First4Internet's XCP system has only been used on audio CDs, so it seems strange that an audio CD protection system would be scanning for programs that are specific for DVDs.
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  9. Member MrMoody's Avatar
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    No doubt it phones home so they can collect statistics on DVD ripping. A shocking violation of privacy.
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    Sony Shipping Spyware from SunnComm, Too:

    What few people realize is that Sony uses another copy protection program, SunnComm’s MediaMax, on other discs in their catalog, and that this system presumably is not included in the moratorium. Though MediaMax doesn’t resort to concealing itself with a rootkit, it does behave in several ways that are characteristic of spyware.
    ....................

    To summarize, MediaMax software:

    * Is installed onto the computer without meaningful notification or consent, and remains installed even if the license agreement is declined;
    * Includes either no uninstall mechanism or an uninstaller that fails to completely remove the program like it claims;
    * Sends information to SunnComm about the user’s activities contrary to SunnComm and Sony statements and without any option to disable the transmissions.
    http://www.freedom-to-tinker.com/?p=925
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  11. Member painkiller's Avatar
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    I guess - on the heels of thist "list" of scanned executables - this explains Sony's recent apology.


    And we thought we had to worry the government was turning into Big Brother.

    Sheesh.

    So much for - Free Enterprise.
    Whatever doesn't kill me, merely ticks me off. (Never again a Sony consumer.)
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  12. Originally Posted by MrMoody
    No doubt it phones home so they can collect statistics on DVD ripping. A shocking violation of privacy.
    I agree

    Yup,They are also in the Movie biz so any info they can get they want.
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  13. The Recording Industry Association of America's CEO Mitch Bainwol was in attendance and you knew that these words had to run a shiver down his spine.
    SPINE???
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  14. Spyware Sony seems to breach copyright
    The spyware that Sony installs on the computers of music fans does not even seem to be correct in terms of copyright law.

    It turns out that the rootkit contains pieces of code that are identical to LAME, an open source mp3-encoder, and thereby breach the license.
    This software is licensed under the so called Lesser Gnu Public License (LGPL). According to this license Sony must comply with a couple of demands. Amongst others, they have to indicate in a copyright notice that they make use of the software. The company must also deliver the source code to the open-source libraries or otherwise make these available. And finally, they must deliver or otherwise make available the in between form between source code and executable code, the so called objectfiles, with which others can make comparable software.

    Sony complied with non of these demands, but delivered just an executable program. A computerexpert, whose name is known by the redaction, discovered that the cd "Get Right With The Man" by "Van Zant" contains strings from the library version.c of Lame. This can be conluded from the string: "http://www.mp3dev.org/", "0.90", "LAME3.95", "3.95", "3.95 ".

    But the expert has more proof. For example, the executable program go.exe contains a so called array largetbl. This is a part used in the module tables.c of libmp3lame.
    http://dewinter.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=215
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  15. can we say 'owned' ?
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  16. man......the more people look into this thing, the worse its looking for sony...maybe they oughtta not have opened that can of worms in the first place.......let well enough be...and people should be able to rip their cd's to the computer or to an mp3 player or whatever....sony sonds like they may catch a LOT of heat when this is all finished.
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  17. Sony to pull controversial CDs, offer swap

    Well it's about darn time!!

    LOS ANGELES — Sony BMG Music Entertainment said Monday it will pull some of its most popular CDs from stores in response to backlash over copy-protection software on the discs.

    Sony also said it will offer exchanges for consumers who purchased the discs, which contain hidden files that leave them vulnerable to computer viruses when played on a PC.

    "Sony BMG deeply regrets any inconvenience to our customers and remains committed to providing an enjoyable and safe music experience," the company said. Sony says more than 20 titles have been released with the XCP copy-protection software, and of those CDs, over 4 million have been manufactured, and 2.1 million sold.

    Details about how long it will take to replace the XCP CDs and about its consumer exchange program will come later in the week, Sony said.
    The article continues:
    http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/computersecurity/2005-11-14-sony-cds_x.htm?cspMy
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    Originally Posted by MrMoody
    No doubt it phones home so they can collect statistics on DVD ripping. A shocking violation of privacy.
    Not really. If what your doing doesn't violate the law where you live you have nothing to worry about and last time I checked DVD ripping software does not include any personal information. Ripping of DVDs is illegal in the United States and the CDs in question have been sold internationally so you can decide. I hope Sony learned their lesson with this and will introduce a stronger copy protection system but this time inform the end user that personal information and any audio-video recording info on the PC will be transmitted. What better way can they direct market to you once they know your viewing habits? Cable companies have been doing this for years now. Why do you think you must rent a set top box? You think it's just so they can transmit shows to your home?
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    Originally Posted by ROF
    Originally Posted by MrMoody
    No doubt it phones home so they can collect statistics on DVD ripping. A shocking violation of privacy.
    Not really. If what your doing doesn't violate the law where you live you have nothing to worry
    Of course you have nothing to worry about- except your rights. But they're not important. If the police come and want to search your house and you're not violating the law, you have nothing to worry about- so why do you suppose the consitution specifically requires them to get a search warrant?

    If insurance companies want to search your medical records so they can charge you more or refuse you health insurance when they find indications that you're more likely to get sick, you have nothing to worry about. Because you can trust the government and business to only collect information about illegal things that you're doing and they'd never use any other information they have no right to use, would they?

    Originally Posted by ROF
    What better way can they direct market to you once they know your viewing habits?
    One better way for them to know what they should direct market you would be to just sneak into your house and look at all the CDs you own instead of just collecting information on the ones you play on your computer. If you're not doing anything illegal then I guess you have nothing to worry about- it's not like they'd steal anything while they're there.

    Originally Posted by ROF
    Cable companies have been doing this for years now. Why do you think you must rent a set top box? You think it's just so they can transmit shows to your home?
    I don't have a set top box for my cable. My TV gets cable channels up to 125- so as long as I don't want the channels above that I don't need a set top box. So yes, I think the set top box is just so they can transmit shows to my home that I can't tune without the box. If they're using the box for other things and you're not informed then it could be illegal.

    So if you're not doing anything illegal then don't worry about protecting your rights. You can trust the government and every single business that you deal with to collect any information they want about you. They'll all be honest and never use it wrongly. Heck, why not just do away with the Bill of Rights altogether. As long as you're not doing anything illegal you don't need any rights, do you?
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    Originally Posted by ROF
    Originally Posted by MrMoody
    No doubt it phones home so they can collect statistics on DVD ripping. A shocking violation of privacy.
    Not really. If what your doing doesn't violate the law where you live you have nothing to worry about and last time I checked DVD ripping software does not include any personal information. Ripping of DVDs is illegal in the United States and the CDs in question have been sold internationally so you can decide. I hope Sony learned their lesson with this and will introduce a stronger copy protection system but this time inform the end user that personal information and any audio-video recording info on the PC will be transmitted. What better way can they direct market to you once they know your viewing habits? Cable companies have been doing this for years now. Why do you think you must rent a set top box? You think it's just so they can transmit shows to your home?
    Was it made illegal after this article?
    http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-3513_7-5128652.html
    The ability to create copies of the media you've purchased for personal use is a long-accepted facet of the fair-use doctrine in U.S. copyright law (at least, it used to be). However, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) states that it's illegal to break the CSS copy-protection mechanism employed by most commercial DVD movies. What does that mean? Most fair-use advocates say that the policy directly contradicts U.S. copyright law, but the DMCA seems to indicate that you cannot make a copy of a commercial DVD, even for personal use, and you certainly cannot give a copied DVD to anyone or watch copied DVD files on your computer. We assume that fair use will eventually catch up and be established as a safety valve for consumers (which has been the pattern with previous technologies, such as VHS), but for now, the territory is still uncertain and a bit dangerous.
    Strikes me that ONLY the industry is claiming it is illegal.

    then you encounter this
    http://www.boingboing.net/2005/03/31/shirky_stupid_c_laws.html
    Shirky: stupid (c) laws block me from publishing own work online
    Clay Shirky tells Boing Boing:

    Welcome to the Copyfight. So, at Etech this year, I gave a talk entitled Ontology is Overrated. I want to put a transcript up online, and Mary Hodder, who recorded the talk, graciously agreed to give me a copy of the video.

    When she came by NYC last week, she dropped off a DVD, which I then wanted to convert to AVI (the format used by my transcription service.) I installed ffmpeg and tried to convert the material, at which point I got an error message which read "To comply with copyright laws, DVD device input is not allowed." Except, of course, there are no copyright laws at issue here, since I'M THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER.

    Got that? I am in possession of a video, of me, shot by a friend, copied to a piece of physical media given to me as a gift. In the video, I am speaking words written by me, and for which I am the clear holder of the copyright. I am working with said video on a machine I own. Every modern legal judgment concerning copyright, from the Berne Convention to the Betamax case, is on my side. AND I CAN'T MAKE A COPY DIRECTLY FROM THE DEVICE. This is because copyright laws do not exist to defend the moral rights of copyright holders -- they exist to help enforce artificial scarcity.

    Copyright holders in my position, who want to use Creative Commons licensing to share material, are treated as pathological cases, because we're not behaving in the extortionate manner that current regulations are designed to protect.

    I've gotten the copy another way, and the transcript will go up, but this is the state of the world, circa 2005: I can be prevented from copying my own words from my own devices, precisely because I want to share them freely, a use the law is perfectly prepared to regard as irrelevant.
    The idiocy will never end.
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    When we reach the point when companies decide what is law and then take the enforcement into their own hands, we have a problem.
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  22. When we reach the point when companies decide what is law and then take the enforcement into their own hands, we have a problem.
    Ever heard of the DMCA? or RIAA? or MPAA?
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  23. Member Cornucopia's Avatar
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    That's why we currently have a problem.
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    Sony malware infections in the millions - security expert

    At first glance, Dan Kaminsky's bright red-colored map of the world looks like a visualization of global population - but it's actually a map of networks carrying Sony's DRM software. The computer security expert estimated the number of infected networks and superimposed the data as red dots on a map of the world. The result is a impressively red globe. Kaminsky told TG Daily that "there could be three million or more infected computers."
    http://www.tgdaily.com/2005/11/15/sony-drm-kaminsky/
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  25. Finally Sony appears to be recalling the XCP CDs:

    http://music.tinfoil.net/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1369

    But watch out for the cure, it's worse than the disease:

    http://www.freedom-to-tinker.com/?p=926

    "Sony’s Web-based XCP uninstallation utility exposes users to serious security risk. Under at least some circumstances, running Sony’s Web-based uninstaller opens a huge security hole on your computer. We have a working demonstration exploit."
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  26. Originally Posted by ROF
    Ripping of DVDs is illegal in the United States and the CDs in question have been sold internationally so you can decide.
    This is patently 100% false. You have every right to rip a DVD. You do not have a right to bypass the content scrambling system on DVD's but not all DVD's have it. It is also not against the law to have DVD ripping software installed on your computer and it is a direct violation of privacy and due process for Sony to scan for such programs without the computer users consent.

    And I also disagree with you on Sony putting a better copy protection system in place. Consumers have a fair use right to copy CD's. It's part of the AHRA! IT IS LAW. As Adam always likes to say it is the only backups actually allowed under law.
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  27. Member adam's Avatar
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    You do not have "every" right to rip a DVD. You can rip DVDs for Fair Use purposes but this does not include making a complete copy for archival purposes. Fair Use has never allowed that for any type of media in any country. It is well settled that the 4 prong Fair Use test cannot be met if you make a complete and exact copy, Fair Use only allows excerpting or imperfect copying (ie: time-shifting) GullyFoyle I don't know why you'd do legal research on cnet.com, but I can tell you that those authors completely misinterpreted that case and completely mistated the law on DVD backups (its just some freelance guy). Its actually pretty shameful that that article was published without being researched first. Some of the articles it links to are flat out wrong too.

    If you are copying for Fair Use purposes, say to take an excerpt for parody or for research, than you are entitled to bypass encryption. As the DMCA states, it does not affect any rights granted to you by Fair Use.

    But if you are copying a DVD for archival purposes than you have violated 17 USCS 106 and you have additionally violated the DMCA (17 USCS 1201) if you bypass encryption in the process. When it comes to ripping DVDs its not either or, you violate them both or none at all. (assuming the DVD is encyrpted.)

    CaptainVideo your right to backup CDs (any musical recording actually) does not come under Fair Use at all it comes under 17 USCS 1008. Also this is not the only thing you are allowed to backup and I'm pretty sure I never said that 17 USCS 117(a)(2) also allows you to make archival copies of computer software and then section 108 grants wide archival rights to libraries and archives. You're right though, I do stress the importance of these rights when discussing the legalities of copying DVDs, because I really think they are dispositive. If Fair Use granted general backup rights, then Congress never would have passed these specific backup rights that only apply to certain types of media AND expressly exclude others. (Committee Notes specifically state that DVDs are not considered computer software for purposes of the computer software exception.

    Now before anyone gives me hell over this, I really have no opinion one way or the other on whether the above laws are a good scheme for archival copying or not. But nevertheless, that is what Title 17 and relevant caselaw has decided.

    Now getting back on topic, I could probably list about 10 laws off the top of my head that Sony has violated in using these rootkits. They are going to catch even more hell for this then they already have and they deserve it. However, my understanding is that Sony is very diversified and divisional so realistically we are probably looking at just one arm of Sony responsible for this, but people are going to blame the whole company. We may see losses for Sony in completely unrelated products like tvs and dvd players.

    There are a number of cases which have tried to balance a company's right to include copyprotection mechanisms versus the consumers' right to make archival copies of CDs. Its not black and white. Just because you are allowed to make those copies doesn't mean Sony can't frustrate the process so long as it is catered towards thwarting illegal copying and not lawful copying. But if they go too far, which they have definitely done in this case, then they are the ones acting unlawfully.
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  28. Member AlecWest's Avatar
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    Originally Posted by junkmalle
    But watch out for the cure, it's worse than the disease:

    http://www.freedom-to-tinker.com/?p=926

    "Sony’s Web-based XCP uninstallation utility exposes users to serious security risk. Under at least some circumstances, running Sony’s Web-based uninstaller opens a huge security hole on your computer. We have a working demonstration exploit."
    Yup. The "fix" installs a CodeSupport ActiveX control that opens up the infected system to remote hacking. TheRegister.com has a brief article on that ... and gives a link to a website at Princeton University (you must use Internet Explorer to access the site) that will detect the ActiveX control on your system:

    http://www.cs.princeton.edu/~jhalderm/xcp/detect.html

    Unfortunately, if it finds the control, there are no recommendations on how to safely remove it.

    P.S. One silver lining in this dark cloud. Amazon.com will accept XCP infected disks back as (ahem) "defective merchandise" ... refunding both purchase price and shipping. All a customer has to do is specify they're returning it as defective merchandise.
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  29. Originally Posted by adam
    CaptainVideo your right to backup CDs (any musical recording actually) does not come under Fair Use at all it comes under 17 USCS 1008. Also this is not the only thing you are allowed to backup and I'm pretty sure I never said that 17 USCS 117(a)(2) also allows you to make archival copies of computer software and then section 108 grants wide archival rights to libraries and archives. You're right though, I do stress the importance of these rights when discussing the legalities of copying DVDs, because I really think they are dispositive. If Fair Use granted general backup rights, then Congress never would have passed these specific backup rights that only apply to certain types of media AND expressly exclude others. (Committee Notes specifically state that DVDs are not considered computer software for purposes of the computer software exception.
    Yep. I realized after I posted that it wasn't the only one but one of the very few things you are by law allowed to backup. Glad to see you are still at least poking around. This forum would absolutely suck without you. I really appreciate your legal insight even if at times it might not appear that I do.

    Sony is in all likelihood going to suffer in other departments. Not just their entertainment division (i.e. movies, music and consoles). I am predicting without any information or insider knowledge that their electronics division suffers greatly due to their "rootkit". Sales across all divisions are going to be down. Their PS3 is going to fail as early adopters will purchase the Xbox 360, even those who were going to wait for the PS3. I bet they buy the Xbox 360 now. TV's, computers, DVD players and amps/recievers won't sell because of this. Anyone in the market for those products are going to cross Sony off their list. What makes this more dramatic is the fact that the holiday shopping season is basically upon us. It's so close that people are not going to forget this as they shop for the holidays.
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    For the defenders of the "man" the stench of fearmongering is in the air.
    http://boingboing.net/
    MPAA: pirated DVDs are "New Drug On The Street"
    In a hyperbolicious announcement released this morning, the Motion Picture Association of America claims pirated DVDs have become "The New Drug On The Street." Snip:


    PIRATED DISCS, DVDS BECOMING "THE NEW DRUG ON THE STREET"

    WASHINGTON -- A fatal car chase on November 10 between a convicted felon in Virginia wanted by authorities on several criminal charges including cocaine possession yielded hundreds of pirated CDs and DVDs in the man's trunk, giving rise to a new kind of traded drug, according to the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) Inc's Dennis Supik.

    "A lot of people we were arresting had drug conviction backgrounds. Actually, what they said was, 'This is the new drug on the street,'" said Supik, an MPAA field investigator who assists local law enforcement in anti-piracy raids.

    New Drug On The Street. Hey, if you reduce that to an acronym, it spells N-DOTS. Which sounds kinda like acid or something, now that you mention it! Link to ASCII text copy of emailed press release
    OR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    November 15, 2005



    PIRATED DISCS, DVDS BECOMING

    "THE NEW DRUG ON THE STREET"



    WASHINGTON-A fatal car chase on November 10 between a convicted felon in Virginia wanted by authorities on several criminal charges including cocaine possession yielded hundreds of pirated CDs and DVDs in the man's trunk, giving rise to a new kind of traded drug, according to the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) Inc's Dennis Supik.



    "A lot of people we were arresting had drug conviction backgrounds. Actually, what they said was, 'This is the new drug on the street,'" said Supik, an MPAA field investigator who assists local law enforcement in anti-piracy raids.



    MPAA investigations teams routinely uncover evidence demonstrating that many of the gangs and syndicates involved in hard goods piracy are also heavily involved in other forms of illegal activity such as drug dealing. In September, Los Angeles police arrested Jose Maria Trujillo for possession of six bundles of powder cocaine, an ounce of marijuana, and selling illegal DVDs after a search of his car uncovered more than 2,000 pirated DVDs. During the same month, Federal and local authorities in New York arrested approximately 21 members of the violent Chinatown street gang "Yi Ging" who were involved in DVD and CD piracy as well as narcotics trafficking, loan sharking and other crimes.



    In a 2003 testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on International Relations, Interpol Secretary General Ron Noble stated that the global trade in narcotics is estimated at $322 billion, while the global trade in counterfeit goods is estimated at $512 billion.



    "Intellectual Property crime (IPC) is a lucrative criminal activity with the possibility of high financial returns. It is also relatively low risk as prison sentences tend to be light when compared to other criminal activity such as drug trafficking," Secretary General Noble said in his testimony.



    "We are aware that serious criminals are profiting from the illegal sales of DVDs. These types of operations are supporting networks of drugs and other criminal activity that we do not want on our streets," said MPAA Chairman and CEO Dan Glickman. "The MPAA is working aggressively to root out piracy in all corners of the globe so that unfortunate events driven by this illegal activity are halted and the public is made safer."



    Working with law enforcement around the world, the MPAA seized more than 76 million illegal optical discs in 2004. A federal interagency report published that same year estimates that counterfeit and pirated goods, including those of copyrighted works, cost the American economy $250 billion a year. The MPAA estimates its member companies lost $3.5 billion last year due to piracy of hard goods alone, not including losses from illegal file-sharing on the Internet.



    The MPAA and its member companies are tackling the major problem of piracy with a multi-pronged approach which includes educating people about the consequences of piracy, taking action against Internet thieves, working with law enforcement authorities around the world to root out pirate operations and working to ensure movies are available legally using advances technology.





    Read Interpol Secretary General Ron Noble's testimony titled The Links Between Intellectual Property Crime and Terrorist Financing at http://www.interpol.int/Public/ICPO/speeches/SG20030716.asp#1 <http://www.interpol.int/Public/ICPO/speeches/SG20030716.asp#1>




    About the MPAA


    The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) serves as the voice and advocate of the American motion picture, home video and television industries from its offices in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. Its members include: Buena Vista Pictures Distribution; Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.; Paramount Pictures; Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.; Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation; Universal City Studios, LLP; and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
    Terrorist, drug dealers, next they will link piracy to the Red menace and the evils of comic books. It ain't just Reefer madness anymore.
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