Sony Using Controversial DRM on Music CDs

Since early 2005, Sony has been shipping copy-protected music CDs which install spyware-like rootkits on users' computers which can't easily be removed.

Sony BMG, one of the world’s largest music distributors, has been experimenting with several technologies in recent years designed to curb what the company perceives as the scourge of music piracy. Now, it appears that one of Sony’s anti-piracy measures installs a rootkit on users’ Windows computers which monitors access to the protected music. The software cannot be easily uninstalled by the user and, if improperly removed, may prevent the computer from accessing its CD and/or DVD drives.

Sony licensed the software, called XCP (for Extended Copy Protection) from First 4 Internet, a UK development firm which specializes in content management and copy protection software. The version of XCP on Sony’s copy-protected CDs is installed as a Windows rootkit