|
Sony to pay compo over 'rootkit' CDs |
|
|
by Stephen Withers
|
|
Thursday, 21 December 2006 |
Californian and Texan consumers affected by the 'rootkit' DRM used
on some Sony BMG music CDs can claim up to $175 towards their repair
costs under the terms of settlements between the states' Attorneys
General and the company.
The Texas and California settlements provides for payment of up to $US175 for those who can document the cost of repairing computers damaged by the XCP software used by Sony, with a minimum payment of $US25 for those with no proof they were out of pocket.
Texas customers returning discs protected with XCP, MediaMax 5.0 or MediaMax 3.0 will also receive some combination of a replacement DRM-free disc, DRM-free MP3 downloads of the samee title, one or more additional free album downloads (not necessarily DRM-free), and $US7.50 in the form of a debit card.
Importantly for other US consumers, Sony BMG is permanently prohibited from using the XCP or MediaMax software in future, or any other scheme that cloaks the files it installs. Where other anti-piracy measures are used the company "must prominently disclose specific items on the CD packaging and on its Web site. The required disclosures include: system requirements; limitations on the number of times a CD can be copied; limitations on the digital file formats into which music on the CD can be converted; and any potential incompatibility issues."{moscomment}
|
Tags
