November 7, 2005 6:53 AM PST
EMI: We don't use rootkits
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Sony has been criticized for including DRM software with a music CD that runs even when the CD is not being played, and hides itself using rootkit technology. The software is difficult to remove and, if removed manually, could shut off access to the computer's CD player.
It has been rumored that other recording giants including EMI and the Universal Music Group use technology similar to that used by Sony; an EMI spokesman said on Friday that the DRM used on EMI's CDs can be completely removed if the user doesn't want to play the CD any more.
"The content-protection software that we're using can be easily uninstalled with a standard uninstaller that comes on the disc. EMI is not using any software that hides traces of the program. There is no 'rootkit' behavior, and there are no processes left running in the background," said an EMI spokesman in a statement.
EMI also said it was not working with First 4 Internet, the U.K. company that created the copy-restriction software for Sony, although it is trialing other content-protection software.
"EMI is not using First 4 Internet technology. We recently completed a trial of three content-protection technologies (Macrovision's CDS300, SunnComm's MediaMax and SonyDADC's key2audioXS), and First 4 Internet's technology was not one of those tested," said the spokesman.
Universal Music Group was unable to provide comment in time for this article.
Although Sony's use of rootkits has sparked an outcry, users would find it difficult to sue Sony in the U.K., even if their computer was damaged by its copy-restriction software, according to legal experts.
Ingrid Marson of ZDNet UK reported from London.
See more CNET content tagged:
EMI Group Plc.,
rootkit,
First 4 Internet Ltd.,
Universal Music Group,
digital-rights management

This is DRM at its worst. My music collection is almost 2000 cd's and the collection is not likely to grow with this consumer abuse experience
Second, some EMI partners are indeed using such tricks, and upper management does not have a clue.
Or, EMI is using a root kit, but they call it something else: "Sub level evaluation process" or some other spin-doctoring dribble.
You might suspect that I am yet another jade customer who is tired of recording companies playing these games.
Song: Sony Don't Hack People Hackers Do
Lyrics:
Come out with your hands on your head
Turn the rap music off and step away from the stereo
Put the hacking album down,
leave MC Hammer alone - turn it off
What?
Sony don't hack people, hackers do
Ask any politician and he'll tell you it's true
It's a fact, music makes you violent
Like Michael Jackson telling little Timmy to be silent
You don't believe me, here's my hype
Offer me the record and I'll show you the type
Of cyber criminal this rap **** is breeding
It's a fact that MC Hammer left me bleeding
Vanilla Ice made my mother say, "__"
If i stuck with 'UB40' then i woulda been in love
But I didn't, I got involved
Cypress ******* Hill taught me to make a ******* bomb
So I started, I bought another tape
The mob boys snapped me, my **** and balls ache
So remember script kids till the head doubles up
Sony don't hack people, it's just hackers
[Chorus]
Sony don't hack people, hackers do
Summon the police
Woop Woop Woop
Sony don't hack people, hackers do
Summon the police
Woop Woop Woop
Sony don't hack people, hackers do
I seen it in a documentary on BBC 2
hacked to death outside Hyper Value
Guns blazing like Michael Caine in Zulu
Gunners statistics are sometimes misleading
The type of criminal hacking is breeding
Shot in the chest no one here stopped the bleeding
2-4 to base over, are you receiving?
Remember rap tracks in '87
scott the lots up in hip-hop heaven
Biggie and Tupac R.I.P.
Even Jam Master Jay's in the cemetery
[Chorus]
Sony don't hack people, hackers do
Summon the police
Woop Woop Woop
Sony don't hack people, hackers do
Summon the police
Woop Woop Woop
Sony don't hack people, hackers do
I'm a ******* hacker and I might hack you
As a hacker I'm teachin' you a lesson
AK-47 is a Smith and Weston
Just say no, just like Sammo
Bulletproof vest, two guns and ammo
Hip-Hop gangsta tripping
Even Eminem's into pistol whipping
Solid Crew told we're the ones
P. Diddy, J. Lo in a nightclub with a gun
Heard Snoop Dogg now wants to bust a cap
Sony don't hack people, it's just hackers
One, two - yo, face my shoe
My name's Mike Balls and I'm coming through
cyber crimes, stabbin' and burgalarization
Is on the rise all across the nation
The safety's off and the pistol's aimed
The Yardies and the Mafia always get blamed
Politician's ashamed, and they haven't got a clue
hacking is more deadly than ******* kung-fu
[Chorus]
Sony don't hack people, hackers do
Summon the police
Woop Woop Woop
Sony don't hack people, hackers do
Summon the police
Woop Woop Woop
Sony don't hack people, hackers do
From Bristol Zoo to B&Q
I wanna hack, I wanna hack
Heard it in a song, now I'm into cyber crime
It's a sign of the times like Prince changing his name
You gotta have a shooter to be in the hack game
Like 'Michael Lown' about to stop
Sony don't hack people, it's just hacking
[Chorus]
Sony don't hack people, hackers do
Summon the police
Woop Woop Woop
Sony don't hack people, hackers do
Summon the police
Woop Woop Woop
-Ray
Like "Have you been hacked by Sony today?", "Has your CD hacked your PC today?" or a Circle/Slash thru DMR Rootkit.
I think I would wear one so people would ask me what was talking about. People need to be educated.
http://www.poikosoft.com/
The copied discs play everywhere. I don?t know if it kills the Sony worm, but I can't risk damaging my computer and leaving it open to hackers. Arrogant Sony won't cough-up the damage.
Also see comments on Amazon with new Neil Diamond CD on Sony:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0009NSCVC/qid=1131469729/sr=2-2/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_2/102-7982133-2892159?v=glance&s=music
Neil Diamond has the clout to stop this.
http://www.poikosoft.com/
The copied discs play everywhere. I don?t know if it kills the Sony worm, but I can't risk damaging my computer and leaving it open to hackers. Arrogant Sony won't cough-up the damage.
Also see comments on Amazon with new Neil Diamond CD on Sony:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0009NSCVC/qid=1131469729/sr=2-2/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_2/102-7982133-2892159?v=glance&s=music
Neil Diamond has the clout to stop this.
- Macrovision probably lied to EMI
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by monyl
November 23, 2005 6:40 PM PST
- as they are struggling with share prices and redundancies at the moment. Likeley that the product manager for CD copy protection made up this bull (that apple were working on it) and EMI bought it, shame on them
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