JiscMail Logo
Email discussion lists for the UK Education and Research communities

Help for LIS-PUB-LIBS Archives


LIS-PUB-LIBS Archives

LIS-PUB-LIBS Archives


LIS-PUB-LIBS@JISCMAIL.AC.UK


View:

Message:

[

First

|

Previous

|

Next

|

Last

]

By Topic:

[

First

|

Previous

|

Next

|

Last

]

By Author:

[

First

|

Previous

|

Next

|

Last

]

Font:

Proportional Font

LISTSERV Archives

LISTSERV Archives

LIS-PUB-LIBS Home

LIS-PUB-LIBS Home

LIS-PUB-LIBS  December 2005

LIS-PUB-LIBS December 2005

Options

Subscribe or Unsubscribe

Subscribe or Unsubscribe

Log In

Log In

Get Password

Get Password

Subject:

Re: Sony CD copy-protection problem

From:

Michael Maxwell <[log in to unmask]>

Reply-To:

Michael Maxwell <[log in to unmask]>

Date:

Fri, 9 Dec 2005 08:43:42 +0000

Content-Type:

text/plain

Parts/Attachments:

Parts/Attachments

text/plain (220 lines)

Hello Viv,
I haven't experienced any problems personally, but Leicester City Council's ICT Security Manager has advised PC users not to use ANY Sony manufactured music CDs in their computers. Apparently the Sony XPC software is designed to restrict users' ability to make copies of Sony's CDs and installs itself automatically from the CD without the user being aware that the installation has taken place. The software is installed using what are essentially hacking tools that open up serious security vulnerabilities on the PC. Additionally, removing the software is very risky because in doing so Windows may become unusable, resulting in the PC having to be rebuilt. Exercise great caution!
Michael


Michael Maxwell
Quality & Development Manager
Leicester City Libraries
Tel: 0116 252 7334


>>> "Watkins, Viv (C&LL)" <[log in to unmask]> 12/08/05 3:03 pm >>>
Hello everyone

Has anyone else had any problems with Sony copy-protected CDs?  I include
emails from my colleague Andrew Baker and our customer which give more info.
There is a list of CDs on the Sony site -
http://cp.sonybmg.com/xcp/english/titles.html 
<http://cp.sonybmg.com/xcp/english/titles.html>   Not encouraging as it
doesn't include the one we have had problems with!

Best wishes
Viv.

		-----Original Message-----
		From: Baker, Andrew J (C&LL) 
		Sent: 07 December 2005 14:26
		To: Libraries; Library Staff
		Subject: CD copy protection problem
		Importance: High

		This seems to be problem with a specific CD - "Contraband"
by Velvet Revolver. If you try to play it on a PC it makes the PC download
security software which then stops the PC copying MP3s  - amongst other
things. A very detailed note below. I have asked to have a warning placed on
the catalogue record but I feel borrowers might blame us for damage so I
would rather gather all the copies in. Could you find them, or request them
and send them to me please.

		-----Original Message-----
		From: Greg Morley [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
<mailto:[mailto:[log in to unmask]]>  
		Sent: 07 December 2005 12:17
		To: [log in to unmask] 
		Cc <mailto:[log in to unmask]> :
[log in to unmask] 
		Subject <mailto:[log in to unmask]> : Note
to library staff: Damaging music CD
		 
		To Whom It May Concern,
		
		On Saturday I returned a selection of CD's that I'd borrowed
from the Lichfield library. I mentioned to the lady at the Returns desk
(upstairs) that I would send an email to the library about damage that one
of the CD's had done to my PC, as I feel other borrowers will benefit from
the information (forewarned = forearmed). 
		
		The CD in question was the "Contraband" album by Velvet
Revolver. When I borrowed the CD, I was aware that the logo on the back of
the case showed that it was a copy-protected CD. I don't have a problem with
this, as I don't copy CD's. However, one evening I wished to play the CD
over my headphones whilst working on my computer at home, as my family was
watching the TV in the same room. On loading the CD, my CD-R drive was
crippled - this without warning or any prompts from the software on the CD. 
		
		I spent considerable time on the Internet researching the
problem and discovered that the CD had been copy-protected by Sony-BMG with
technology that has recently caused much controversy around the world. In
fact, various entities have launched class-action lawsuits against Sony as a
direct result of this, including the state of Texas, the EFF (Electronic
Frontier Foundation) and various others are considering class-action
lawsuits, including the state of New York. 
		
		Not only does Sony's copy-protection software cripple CD
drives, it also installs a hidden "rootkit" (malicious software) on
computers, which in turn exposes the infected computers to further security
problems. 
		
		Rather than going into too much detail here, I would ask you
to read about the problem at the site below, the author of which (Mark
Russinovich) is a Windows security expert who alerted the media to this
particular problem: 
		
		<http://www.sysinternals.com/Blog/ 
<http://www.sysinternals.com/Blog/> >
		
		The above is probably the best source of information on the
problem, but there are many other websites writing about it. Some news today
about additional problems: 
		
	
<http://news.com.com/New+Sony+CD+security+risk+found/2100-1002_3-5984764.htm 
l
<http://news.com.com/New+Sony+CD+security+risk+found/2100-1002_3-5984764.htm 
l> >
		
		Further below my email is a copy of an email thread I've had
with a representative of someone from Sony, Joyce Okuya, who offered to
replace the CD in question with one that did not have any copy protection.
However, as you can see from my emails to Joyce, firstly I am not in a
position to swap a library CD with Sony, and secondly a replacement CD will
not fix my CD-R drive. I've not any reply from Sony following the last item
in the thread, but if anything constructive comes back to me, I'll be sure
to forward it to Lichfield Library. 
		
		Obviously I am disappointed by the problems caused, but my
finger is pointed firmly at Sony, not Lichfield Library. I hope this email
will serve as the basis for informing other borrowers about potential
problems. 
		
		Kind regards,
		Greg Morley.
		
		
		---------- Forwarded message ----------
		From: Greg Morley < [log in to unmask] 
<mailto:[log in to unmask]>  <mailto:[log in to unmask] 
<mailto:[log in to unmask]> >>
		Date: Nov 16, 2005 2:45 PM
		Subject: Re: FW: www.bmgcopycontrol.com 
<http://www.bmgcopycontrol.com>  <http://www.bmgcopycontrol.com 
<http://www.bmgcopycontrol.com> >
		To: "[log in to unmask] 
<mailto:[log in to unmask]> <mailto:[log in to unmask] 
<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> " <[log in to unmask] 
<mailto:[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask] 
<mailto:[log in to unmask]> >>
		
		Dear Joyce,
		
		Thank you for your offer. However, this does not address the
issue which I raised, namely that my CD drive has been disabled by the
Velvet Revolver "Contraband" CD. 
		
		To repeat my original request, please can you provide me
with a means to fully remove the effects of the copy-protection software.
The CD has disabled my computer's CD drive without my permission and I wish
to have my CD drive returned to its original state. 
		
		Kind regards,
		Greg.



		On 11/15/05, [log in to unmask] 
<mailto:[log in to unmask]>  <mailto:[log in to unmask] 
<mailto:[log in to unmask]> > < [log in to unmask] 
<mailto:[log in to unmask]>  <mailto:[log in to unmask] 
<mailto:[log in to unmask]> >> wrote:
		Dear Greg,
		
		Many thanks for taking the time to write to SonyBMG. 
		
		I have a version of this disc that will play in your system
so could you
		please send me your full postal address and I will arrange
for a prepaid
		envelope to be sent out to you.  If you could then return me
the disc, 
		and proof of purchase and we will send you a new version
that should
		meet your requirements.  If you have no proof of purchase we
will check
		the disc is a valid BMG UK version before sending you the
new disc.
		
		
		Kind regards
		
		Joyce Okuya
		
		
		
		Name: Greg Morley
		Adresse:
		Mobil:
		Email: [log in to unmask] 
<mailto:[log in to unmask]>  <mailto:[log in to unmask] 
<mailto:[log in to unmask]> >
		Bemerkung: To Whom It May Concern, 
		
		Listening to a copy of Velvet Revolver\'s \"Contraband\" CD
on my hi-fi
		works as expected.
		
		However, listening to the same CD on my computer not only
failed to
		work, but it has disabled my CD-writer to the extent that my
CD-writer 
		can no longer even recognise the presence of any CD, be it
music or
		data.
		
		I am running Windows XP.
		
		In light of the recent news about Sony\'s \"rootkit\"
copy-protection,
		please can you provide me with a means to fully remove the
effects of 
		the copy-protection software that was on the abovementioned
CD. Bear in
		mind that no EULA, media player or application ran at all
when the CD
		was placed in my computer.
		
		I look forward to your prompt response. 
		
		Kind regards,
		Greg.



Disclaimer

This e-mail (including any attachments) is only for the person or organisation it is addressed to.  If you are not the intended recipient you must let me know immediately and then delete this e-mail.  If you use this e-mail without permission, or if you allow anyone else to see, copy or distribute the e-mail, or if you do, or don't do something because you have read this e-mail, you may be breaking the law.  

Liability cannot be accepted for any loss or damage arising from this e-mail (or any attachments) or from incompatible scripts or any virus transmitted.  

E-mails and attachments sent to or received from staff and elected Members may be monitored and read and the right is reserved to reject or return or delete any which are considered to be inappropriate or unsuitable.

Top of Message | Previous Page | Permalink

JiscMail Tools


RSS Feeds and Sharing


Advanced Options


Archives

March 2024
February 2024
January 2024
December 2023
November 2023
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
December 2004
November 2004
October 2004
September 2004
August 2004
July 2004
June 2004
May 2004
April 2004
March 2004
February 2004
January 2004
December 2003
November 2003
October 2003
September 2003
August 2003
July 2003
June 2003
May 2003
April 2003
March 2003
February 2003
January 2003
December 2002
November 2002
October 2002
September 2002
August 2002
July 2002
June 2002
May 2002
April 2002
March 2002
February 2002
January 2002
December 2001
November 2001
October 2001
September 2001
August 2001
July 2001
June 2001
May 2001
April 2001
March 2001
February 2001
January 2001
December 2000
November 2000
October 2000
September 2000
August 2000
July 2000
June 2000
May 2000
April 2000
March 2000
February 2000
January 2000
December 1999
November 1999
October 1999
September 1999
August 1999
July 1999
June 1999
May 1999
April 1999
March 1999
February 1999
January 1999
December 1998
November 1998
October 1998
September 1998


JiscMail is a Jisc service.

View our service policies at https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/policyandsecurity/ and Jisc's privacy policy at https://www.jisc.ac.uk/website/privacy-notice

For help and support help@jisc.ac.uk

Secured by F-Secure Anti-Virus CataList Email List Search Powered by the LISTSERV Email List Manager