Sony has been criticised 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 rumoured 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' behaviour, 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 UK company that created the copy-restriction software for Sony, although it is trialling 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.
ZDNet UK's Ingrid Marson reported from London. For more coverage from ZDNet UK, click here.
... where they introduce busted bits into the digital data stream that cause players to constantly recalibrate and lead to damage to the optical block.
It's happened to me, on devices that otherwise play standard Orange Book CDs... namely a high-end Pioneer LaserDisc player CLD-2950 and an older, but otherwise reliable Sony Discman D-303.
Which is better... something that damages the installation of software for a PC, or something that damages hi-fi electronics hardware? Either way, the consumer loses. Hence, I boycot anything that doesn't follow the Orange Book standards, thank you very much.