Sony DRM: It gets worse and worse

November 13, 2005

BoingBoing has been tracking more revelations of Sony DRM, and it just keeps getting worse. I think I’ll be cancelling my BMG Music Club (which is owned by Sony). It’s a shame I don’t still play Star Wars Galaxies (Sony Online Entertainment), so I could cancel over this too. My next DVD player won’t be a Sony, nor will my soon-to-be-purchased High Definition television, and the Playstation 3 can get stuffed. Microsoft looks downright angelic by comparison.

• Sony’s CD EULA
• Sony’s CDs Infect Macs
• Sony’s other Trojan Horse, which installs even if you reject the CD’s EULA.
• Sony’s new patent, on technology which would make it impossible difficult and illegal to trade, loan, or sell games (or even play your game on another console you own, presumably).

I understand there are ways to get around copy protection—some of them very simple—and instructions and suggestions occasionally pop up in the comments here. That’s not the point. The point is these companies are making it difficult, and in some cases illegal, to do use their products in the ways we are used to using them and in a manner consistant with fair use and/or private ownership rights.

Update: 11/13 10:05 AM Speaking of Microsoft, according to the Washington Post the big M$ is adding the Sony CD DRM rootkit to the list of items removed by its anti-spyware application. Viruses have been released that take advantage of Sony’s rootkit, so an easy way to remove it is welcome. Be aware that the CDs are still in stores because Sony has not issued a recall. Not that this affects me, as I won’t be buying anything on a Sony label anyway…

Posted in Technology