DRM News Comments

Warren Crossing: GPL License Curbs Linux

spamme@pointdefence.net (Warren Crossing) — Wed, 9 Aug 2006 01:13:30 -0500

This is not just about Linux!! I am no lawer, so correct me if I am wrong...

So if Sony/HP/IBM/Sun were to make a box that would only run their modified version of GPLv3 Linux and a GPLv3 media player to play DRM media then GPLv3 says Sony/HP/IBM/Sun would have to give everyone access and rights to replace Linux and the media player and continue to play the DRM content on that DRM hardware.

Point to note, this is really important for companies at the moment, the ability to tie the user to a piece of hardware (eg. Mobile phones) which gives some secure platform to deliver DRM content.

I think GPLv3 is a step in the right direction because it addresses some issues of GPL and commercially licensed software and hardware products which are increasing common.

However I think it goes too far to suggest all Sony PSP3 games should run on Linux when not running on a PSP3. Just because Sony use the platform with some modifications.

I will continue to discourage vendors of DRM/closed hardware/software by regular market forces ie. boycott that DRM protected hardware (the same reason why we don't buy ATI cards)

I rue the day when I cannot buy a CD which plays in my cd player because the maker of my OS doesn't have an agreement with hollywood! That will suck.

epp_b: Open-source DRM project reaches version 2

eppb12@gmail.com (epp_b) — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 15:35:23 -0500

Sounds good to me - access to the source will guarantee hackability :)

Shawn Oster: Microsofts URGE Digital Music Service No Threat to Apple

shawn.oster@gmail.com (Shawn Oster) — Fri, 19 May 2006 12:56:48 -0500

Interesting, I have to disagree with how well URGE is going to do.

One, it does offer a huge differentiation from iTunes, you're not locked into a having to use an iPod. While the iPod has the dominant share there are plenty of users that are getting household music systems that can't play their locked down songs. Look at the growing support for the new open-source iPod OS.

Two, see above, what you consider a negative a lot people will consider a positive.

Three, Microsoft/MTV are offering both a subscription, which many people really love and are pretty vocal about wanting iTunes to adopt, AND an iTunes, pay $0.99 a track model. After going through the sign-up/trial it is pretty easy and not confusing at all. Most people that love music don't feel "overwhelmed" by choice, they tend to be voracious consumers of music. If they are young they also tend to be pretty fickle, loving an album one month and hating it the next.

A few more things...

Four, with sites like allofmp3.com closing down people will be looking for a place to buy music that isn't as locked down as iTunes. I know many people that used allofmp3.com only because they disliked their music being locked into the "FairPlay" model.

Five, MTV. Who thinks of Yahoo for music? Not me. Who thinks of Janus as anything more than a financial company? A MSN music store? It's pretty obvious why all of those failed. Having the marketing weight of MTV behind this is a great move. Love it or hate it (I'm in the "strongly dislike" group) MTV still captures a huge amount of ears and eyeballs and if they start pushing URGE hard on TRL and the like that is enough to turn a few heads.

Six, imagine XBox 360 + URGE intergration. People already love streaming music through their 360 but when you can hop onto URGE and stream a radio station or watch a new video that will be huge. I have no idea if it's going to happen but I can't imagine they would miss that chance.

I don't think URGE is going to be an iTunes-Killer by any means, but I do think it will last and that it will end up in the same weight category as iTunes. That can only benefit consumers when iTunes once again has a real competitor.

Mike: DRM delayed Nokia's 'iPod' phone

n91@wordontheblog.com (Mike) — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 15:49:34 -0600

All true although the device has not been further delayed into q3 2006 as reported on various blogs today. Its still due to ship q1 2006.

Cheers

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::All About N91::
http://n91.wordontheblog.com
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Jackson Simth: Private D.C. suit filed against Sony

j1Smith@hotmail.com (Jackson Simth) — Tue, 6 Dec 2005 03:02:46 -0600

It isn't just Sony that should be sued, but the DRM makers too.

Who protects investors from this fraudulent activity by SunnComm

http://p2pnet.net/story/7201

Roly Roper: UK inquiry into DRM and the law

rolyroper@yahoo.com (Roly Roper) — Sat, 19 Nov 2005 09:30:53 -0600

Sony XCP software and Australian Law

Release: Sat 19th Nov 2005

A new Internet Blog asserts that Sony BMG has seriously broken Australian law.

So called DRM or "anti-piracy" software bundled with Sony BMG music CD's since mid year has become one of the most serious virus infections ever.

Despite Sony's public assurances CD's containing the malware are still on sale in Australian music shops.

For the full story please visit:

http://member.telpacific.com.au/rolyroper/sonyxcpandozlaw.htm

Anthony Stump: Sony's rootkit DRM comes under legal attack

anthonystump@acad.kc.devry.edu (Anthony Stump) — Fri, 18 Nov 2005 16:11:35 -0600

First of all, it is illegal to circumvent DRM. I am supprised that antivirus and spyware companies are getting away with posting hacks that remove the DRM software. Secondly, about this debate that they stole the LGPL source code... looking at source code of DRM technologies is against the DMCA.

Third - to any law firms or lawyers wanting to sue Sony, be prepared to have your case thrown out. What chance does a lawfirm have at changing the world, when the technology they are sueing over is protected by the DMCA? Sony will win every and any lawsuit placed against them, pay for a gag order so that the public does never find out the verdict, and likely settle the lawsuit out of court.

Tom Ciarlone: Sony's rootkit DRM comes under legal attack

tciarlone@lawssb.com (Tom Ciarlone) — Mon, 14 Nov 2005 09:42:46 -0600

Class Action Law Firm Investigating Sony CDs:
My law firm is investigating the situation surrounding rootkits on Sony-label CDs. In connection with our investigation, we are interested in learning more about the experiences consumers have had with those CDs. I can be contacted at (212) 239-4340 or, by e-mail, at tciarlone@lawssb.com.

Scott: Sony's rootkit DRM comes under legal attack

adjustafresh@gmail.com (Scott) — Sun, 13 Nov 2005 21:43:58 -0600

My first experience with Sony's DRM software was about a week ago. After the program installed itself on my machine, I have been unable to import any CDs via iTunes (even after downloading Sony's patch).

It's one thing for the software to prevent me from listening to one of Sony's discs, but to disable an entire program without my knowledge or approval is criminal.

Oz: Analysis: Sony BMG copy protection may be stealthy, but is it a "rootkit?"

oz@yahoo.com (Oz) — Fri, 11 Nov 2005 07:52:49 -0600

Mark Russinovich has updated his page with the followng, which comfirms that this product is a rootkit:

"I decided to investigate so I downloaded a free network tracing tool, Ethereal, to a computer on which the player was installed and captured network traffic during the Players startup. A quick look through the trace log confirmed the users comment: the Player does send an ID to a Sony web site. This screenshot shows the command that the Player sends, which is a request to an address registered to Sony for information related to ID 668, which is presumably the CD's ID:

[snip]

In response the Sony web site reports the last time a particular file was updated:

[snip]

The author of the above article surely must now agree that his article is in error, now that more investigation has been done.

Jim Online: Sony's rootkit DRM comes under legal attack

jim@diamondslog.com (Jim Online) — Fri, 11 Nov 2005 03:42:51 -0600

Good to see that someone is finally walking the walk with this.

Andrew Bakke: Analysis: Sony BMG copy protection may be stealthy, but is it a "rootkit?"

apbakke@mtu.edu (Andrew Bakke) — Fri, 4 Nov 2005 18:41:59 -0600

While the Sony BMG DRM may not open an external channel, it's cloaking technology is very concerning. The fact that any computer "infected" with the Sony DRM is now open to further attacks, even outside of Sony. Exploiting the rootkit, a hacker needs only to write a virus that begins with "$sys$" and anti-virus software will be unable to detect it.

The fact that Sony has opened this security hole on it CUSTOMERS computers is a sign of bad faith, and they need to be held responsible for their actions.

PhilTR: Analysis: Sony BMG copy protection may be stealthy, but is it a "rootkit?"

rabne@pipeline.com (PhilTR) — Fri, 4 Nov 2005 18:19:24 -0600

"As we come to understand it, a rootkit is not only a piece of malware that hides itself using techniques similar to those Russinovich discovered, but also opens up a line of communication between itself and a remote host, often using an unmonitored port, somewhere in the vast wilderness of the Internet. This, the XCP software apparently does not do. In fact, there's no evidence that the software does anything other than what its manufacturer claims it does, on its own Web site."

Fair enough. However, what if someone wanted to insert that function without your knowledge? Or other functions like md, cp, sendfile, etc. Or make and hide a copy of your address book sending rootkit-like programs hither and thither? Can files install w/o clicking on them? I've heard they can.

Would it be possible to establish a hidden network of compromized computers? The skillful user might easily catch this activity. But, how about those who have just enough knowledge to be dangerous?

agent format Settings : Aladdin and PGP Partnership

Franz@Franz.com (agent format Settings ) — Sat, 10 Sep 2005 03:08:15 -0500

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Anonymous Coward: Mac OS X Intel Kernel Uses DRM

jimmypalmer@gmail.com (Anonymous Coward) — Mon, 8 Aug 2005 05:40:40 -0500

Do they really think that DRM will stop us? We've seen what we want, and we'll either get it or make it. You ever look at a couple and wonder, 'What is she doing with him..? What a waste.' It's what a lot of people think when they look at Mac OS X and Apple hardware. DRM, haa-haa! We won't be monopolized, we'll get what we want, we've seen it, we'll have it one way or another.