In addition to a selection of new Cyber-shot cameras, Sony today announced serious expansions to its Bravia flat-panels television line, and finally set both a price and availability date on its computer-free Bravia Internet Video Link, which will enable users to put Internet video on their compatible Bravia televisions without needing to go through a computer.
Tag Archive: sony bmg music
Sony BMG Settles with 39 States
Following immediately on its settlements with Texas and California, music label Sony BMG has agreed to pay some $4.25 million as part of settlement agreements with 39 U.S. states and the District of Columbia regarding copy protection software included on some of the labels music CDs which caused computers to malfunction and exposed users to security threats.
Sony Rootkit Fiasco Prompts Federal Warning
At the RSA Conference 2006 in San Jose, Department of Homeland Security official Jonathan Frenkel warned that if software distributors continue to distribute rootkit-like software designed to circumvent or defeat computer security measures, legislation or regulation may be necessary to rein in their practices.
Frankel was discussing the 2005 incident where XCP copy protection software embedded on selected Sony BMG music titles was found to compromise the security of Windows computers, and was later exploited by Windows malware. The software also installed itself without disclosing its presence and was difficult for users to remove without severely compromising Windows. The incident proved to be a public relations fiasco for Sony, whose repeated attempts to obscure, downplay, and minimize the issues only put more egg on their faces. Sony has since withdrawn the products and is working to settle private, state, and class action lawsuits.
Sony Eyes P2P Venture
“A new partnership of opposites may be in the offing, one that will allow you to download pay-for and free songs from the Internet. The partnership called Mashboxxx, first reported in Friday’s Los Angeles Times, will happen between Sony BMG Music Entertainment and online peer-to-peer software distributor Grokster. This is quite an historical venture really, being the first earnest public partnership between a major recording company and an established file-sharing outfit. There have been many rumours (whispered behind the hand) of these schemes already being run.”
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