Sony’s rootkit infringes on software copyrights
Close examination of the rootkit that Sony’s audio CDs attack their customers’ PCs with has revealed that their malicious software is built on code that infringes on copyright. Indications are that Sony has included the LAME music encoder, which is licensed under the Lesser General Public License (LGPL), which requires that those who use it attribute the original software and publish some of the code they write to use the library. Sony has done none of this.

The evidence against Sony is compelling, and this further reveals the hypocrisy of Sony’s actions. Sony claims that it needs to install dangerous, malicious, underhanded software on its customers’ computers to protect its copyrights, but in order to write this malware, it has no compunction about infringing on the copyrights of public-spirited software authors who make their works available under free software licenses like the GPL.

Link
(Via BoingBoing)

Update – and now Sony/BMG are getting sued by the Texas Attorney General because of the spyware contained in the copy-protection of the CDs.

This is a couple of weeks old already, but won’t go away. Sony made a mistake and I would guess the Japanese HQ is upset over this loss of face. Was it a terrible mistake to purchase Columbia Records and Movies in the Eighties? What has happened to that great and very innovating company that was so influential in the Seventies? Apple is the new Sony some people say. I don’t own any Sony stuff anymore. It’s been replaced by other brands who innovate more.