Sony BMG CD Copy Protection Software Invades Computers Angering Already Alienated Consumers

Copy protecting CD’s may seem like a partial solution to the piracy issue to some major label execs.  However the technology utilized may only serve to further alienate consumers who not only expect the right to make copies for mix tapes and portable players, but who now find their computers invaded with hidden files that are part  of the copy protection process.

"…software programmer Mark Russinovich traced a rootkit installation on his computer to a Sony BMG copy-protected disc," reports Digital Music News.  "The CD carried the latest album by the Van Zant brothers. "Rootkits," he says in his blog, "are cloaking technologies that hide files, registry keys, and other system objects from diagnostic and security software." According to Russinovich, they are usually used by hackers to invade computers while keeping their presence masked…Russinovich eventually found that the rootkit was tied to a company named First 4 Internet LTD."

His researched then confirmed "…the fact that [First 4 Internet has] deals with several record companies, including Sony, to implement Digital Rights Management (DRM) software for CDs." He was finally able to delete the rootkit, but the process also deleted his CD-ROM drivers, rendering the device useless…"

"…While labels have the right to protect their intellectual property, opening up consumers to hacking is questionable, at best."