Sony BMG in copy-protection controversy
You may have read recently about a row involving
Sony BMG over their use of an audio copy-protection
system which covertly hides files on your hard disk.
While it looks as though Sony BMG could be in a
little trouble, users of our audio copy-protection
offering, key2audioXS,
have nothing to fear.
What's the story?
Sony BMG used a copy-protection system called XCP
(developed by a company called First4Internet) on
a number of their audio CD releases. XCP (or Extended
Copy Protection) is a Digital Rights Management
(DRM) solution which is designed to control the
playback of the audio tracks on a Windows PC, forcing
you to use a particular player, rather than your
preferred player - Windows Media Player, for example.
In this way, the ability to copy and distribute
tracks from the CD or convert to MP3 can be limited
and controlled.
OK, so where's the controversy?
The problem is the way in which the XCP system takes
control of your computer. In order to listen to
the audio tracks on your Windows PC you have to
agree to use the supplied player software. On installation
of the player, files used by the XCP system are
covertly installed deep inside the operating system,
so altering your computer without your knowledge
or permission.
Can't you just remove the files?
No, because even if you know the files are there,
you can't find them as they've been 'cloaked' using
a rootkit.
What is a rootkit?
It's a technology, usually used by malware, to hide
files away from scanners and other security software.
In this instance the rootkit is being used to hide
the XCP files from detection and removal, and now
that it has been discovered, it is expected that
new viruses will be released that will exploit it.
Why could Sony BMG be in trouble?
Legal experts believe that by installing unauthorised
software, the company is open to prosecution under
the Computer Misuse Act.
Are key2audioXS copy protected CDs 'safe'?
Yes, the key2audioXS does not install any rootkit
on the user's PC and therefore does not leave the
computer open to damaging attacks from the internet.
See also:
> Search
on BBC website for Sony BMG/XCP news items
> Mark
Russinovich's blog on discovering the rootkit
> Sony
BMG response to the XCP situation
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