p2p news / p2pnet: Not only is Sony BMG’s DRMS (Digital Restrictions Management Spyware) lame, it’s L.A.M.E.

That’s the conclusion reached by brenno in a post on De Winter Information Solutions when he says:

“The spyware that Sony installs on the computers of music fans does not even seem to be correct in terms of copyright law.”

Sony BMG had planted secret DRM code on some music CDs. It got caught. Big Time. But had it succeeded, you can be sure the DRM would have ended up an all Sony BMG CDs and that Vivendi Universal, Warner Music and EMI Group, its brethren in Organised Music, would soon have followed suit.

It turns out that the rootkit contains pieces of code that are identical to LAME, “and thereby breach the license,” says brenno in a translation of a piece he wrote for Webwereld.

L.A.M.E. is one of, if not the, best free mp3 encoders around.

“This software is licensed under the so called Lesser Gnu Public License (LGPL),” says brenno. “According to this license Sony must comply with a couple of demands. Amongst others, they have to indicate in a copyright notice that they make use of the software. The company must also deliver the source code to the open-source libraries or otherwise make these available. And finally, they must deliver or otherwise make available the in between form between source code and executable code, the so called objectfiles, with which others can make comparable software.

“Sony complied with non of these demands, but delivered just an executable program. A computerexpert, whose name is known by the redaction, discovered that the cd “Get Right With The Man” by ‘Van Zant’ contains strings from the library version.c of Lame. This can be concluded from the string: ‘http://www.mp3dev.org/’, ‘0.90′, ‘LAME3.95′, ‘3.95′, ‘3.95′.”

Not only but also, the executable program go.exe has a so “called array largetbl. This is a part used in the module tables.c of libmp3lame.”

Judges in Germany have already forced various companies to release source code to the public and to deliver the goods necessary for compiling., says brenno, adding, “It is also possible to demand financial compensation for damages.

“Various calls to Sony BMG remained unanswered despite promises to call back.”

Really?

The full frontal EULA
So the saga really is becoming a Saga. Couldn’t happen to a nice company, which is also getting it because of its scurvy EULA (end user license agreement), thanks to the EFF’s Fred von Lohmann who points out that Sony-BMG can use the ‘agreement’ to install backdoors “enforce” its “rights” any time and without any notice.

Here, thanks to Sysinternals.com, one of the two sites (the other being F-Secure) where news of the scandal broke and which has been running blow-by-blow analyses and commentaries from discoverer Mark Russinovich ever since, is the full frontal EULA.

And in case you think our use of the term Spyware is somewhat pejorative, it’s been described thus by Computer Associates, and Microsoft is adding the Sony DCD DRM to next month’s Malicious Software Removal Tool update for detection and removal.

Meanwhile, here’s the EULA >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

IMPORTANT-READ CAREFULLY: This compact disc (“CD”) product contains standard so-called “Red Book”-compliant audio files that can be played on any standard CD player, including those contained in many personal home computer systems. As an added feature, this compact disc (“CD”) product also enables you to convert these audio files into digital music files and/or may also contain other already existing digital content (such files and content, collectively, the “DIGITAL CONTENT”), any of which may be stored on the hard drive of a personal home computer system owned by you (“YOUR COMPUTER”) and accessed via YOUR COMPUTER or certain approved, compatible portable devices owned by you (each, an “APPROVED PORTABLE DEVICE”).

Before you can play the audio files on YOUR COMPUTER or create and/or transfer the DIGITAL CONTENT to YOUR COMPUTER, you will need to review and agree to be bound by an end user license agreement or “EULA”, the terms and conditions of which are set forth below. Once you have read these terms and conditions, you will be asked whether or not you agree to be bound by them. Click “AGREE” if you agree to be bound. Click “DISAGREE” if you do not agree to be bound. Please keep in mind, however, that if you do not agree to be bound by these terms and conditions, you will not be able to utilize the audio files or the DIGITAL CONTENT on YOUR COMPUTER.

As soon as you have agreed to be bound by the terms and conditions of the EULA, this CD will automatically install a small proprietary software program (the “SOFTWARE”) onto YOUR COMPUTER. The SOFTWARE is intended to protect the audio files embodied on the CD, and it may also facilitate your use of the DIGITAL CONTENT. Once installed, the SOFTWARE will reside on YOUR COMPUTER until removed or deleted. However, the SOFTWARE will not be used at any time to collect any personal information from you, whether stored on YOUR COMPUTER or otherwise.

Once the SOFTWARE has been installed on YOUR COMPUTER, a menu will then appear on the screen of YOUR COMPUTER, giving you the option of playing the audio files on YOUR COMPUTER, creating a copy of the DIGITAL CONTENT directly onto the hard drive of YOUR COMPUTER, or making a limited number of back-up copies of the CD onto other, recordable CDs. If you choose to create a copy of the DIGITAL CONTENT, the menu will then prompt you to select a file format for the DIGITAL CONTENT. Once you have selected a file format, a copy of the DIGITAL CONTENT will automatically be created in that file format and transferred onto the hard drive of YOUR COMPUTER, where you will be able to access it using an APPROVED MEDIA PLAYER (see below) or, at you election, transfer it from YOUR COMPUTER onto an APPROVED PORTABLE DEVICE.

In order to access the DIGITAL CONTENT on YOUR COMPUTER, you will need to have a copy of an approved media player software program that is capable of playing the DIGITAL CONTENT in the file format you selected (each such approved media player, an “APPROVED MEDIA PLAYER”) on YOUR COMPUTER. You may already have a copy of an APPROVED MEDIA PLAYER on YOUR COMPUTER. If you do, you will be able to play the DIGITAL CONTENT on YOUR COMPUTER without doing anything further. This CD may also contain an APPROVED MEDIA PLAYER for the file format you selected. If it does, the menu that appears on the screen of YOUR COMPUTER will prompt you on how to transfer a copy of that APPROVED MEDIA PLAYER onto YOUR COMPUTER. To the extent you utilize an APPROVED MEDIA PLAYER contained on this CD, your use of such APPROVED MEDIA PLAYER may be subject, in each instance, to separate terms and conditions provided by the owner of the APPROVED MEDIA PLAYER concerned. If you do not already have a copy of an APPROVED MEDIA PLAYER on YOUR COMPUTER, and if this CD does not contain a compatible APPROVED MEDIA PLAYER, then you will then need to secure a compatible APPROVED MEDIA PLAYER elsewhere (e.g., on an Internet website, where you can download one).

END-USER LICENSE AGREEMENT

This End-User License Agreement (“EULA”) is a legal agreement between you and SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT (“SONY BMG”), a general partnership established under Delaware law. By clicking on the “AGREE” button below, you will indicate your acceptance of these terms and conditions, at which point this EULA will become a legally binding agreement between you and SONY BMG.

Article 1. GRANT OF LICENSE

1. Subject to your agreement to the terms and conditions set forth in this EULA, SONY BMG grants to you a personal, non-exclusive and non-transferable license, with no right to grant sublicenses, to:

(a) install one (1) copy of SOFTWARE onto the hard drive of YOUR COMPUTER, solely in machine-executable form;

(b) install one (1) copy of any APPROVED MEDIA PLAYER(S) contained on this CD onto the hard drive of YOUR COMPUTER, solely in machine-executable form;

(c) use the SOFTWARE and any APPROVED MEDIA PLAYER(S) contained on this CD to access the DIGITAL CONTENT on YOUR COMPUTER or on an APPROVED PORTABLE DEVICE;

in each instance, solely for your own personal and private use and not for any other purpose (including, without limitation, any act of electronic or physical distribution, making available, performance or broadcast, or any act for profit or other commercial purpose) and in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this EULA.

2. The DIGITAL CONTENT and the SOFTWARE contained on this CD are sometimes referred to herein, collectively, as the “LICENSED MATERIALS”.

Article 2. PRODUCT FEATURES

1. This CD contains technology that is designed to prevent users from making certain, unauthorized uses of the DIGITAL CONTENT, including, without limitation, the following:

(1) making and storing more than one (1) copy of the DIGITAL CONTENT in each available file format on the hard drive of YOUR COMPUTER;

(2) accessing the DIGITAL CONTENT on YOUR COMPUTER (once you have installed a copy of it on the hard drive of YOUR COMPUTER) using a media player that is not an APPROVED MEDIA PLAYER;

(3) transferring copies of the DIGITAL CONTENT that reside on the hard drive of YOUR COMPUTER on to portable devices that are not APPROVED PORTABLE DEVICES;

(4) burning more than three (3) copies of the DIGITAL CONTENT stored on YOUR COMPUTER (ATRAC OpenMG file format only) onto AtracCDs;

(5) burning more than three (3) copies of the DIGITAL CONTENT onto recordable compact discs in the so-called “Red Book”-compliant audio file format; and

(6) burning more than three (3) backup copies of this CD (using the burning application provided on the CD) onto recordable CDs and burning or otherwise making additional copies from the resulting backup copies.

2. PLEASE NOTE: Your use of the DIGITAL CONTENT and the other LICENSED MATERIALS may be subject to additional restrictions, under applicable copyright and other laws, that are not enforced or prescribed by any technology contained on this CD. The absence of any such technology designed to enforce these additional restrictions should in no way be viewed or interpreted as a waiver, on the part of SONY BMG or any other person or entity owning any rights in any of the LICENSED MATERIALS, of their respective rights to enforce any such additional restrictions regarding your use of the LICENSED MATERIALS. Your use of the DIGITAL CONTENT and the other LICENSED MATERIALS shall, at all times, remain subject to any and all applicable laws governing the use of such materials, including, without limitation, any restrictions on your use prescribed therein.

3. All of your rights to enjoy the DIGITAL CONTENT, as described herein, shall be subject to your continued ownership of all rights in and to the physical CD on which such DIGITAL CONTENT is embodied; should you transfer your ownership rights in the physical CD on which such DIGITAL CONTENT is embodied (in whole or in part) to any other person (whether by sale, gift or otherwise), your rights in both the physical CD and such DIGITAL CONTENT shall terminate.

Article 3. RESTRICTIONS ON USE OF LICENSED MATERIALS

1. Except to the extent otherwise expressly permitted hereunder or otherwise by the owner of the relevant rights in or to the LICENSED MATERIALS concerned, and without limitation, the following restrictions shall apply to your use of the LICENSED MATERIALS:

(a) You may not copy or reproduce any portion of the LICENSED MATERIALS.

(b) You may not distribute, share through any information network, transfer, sell, lease or rent any of the LICENSED MATERIALS to any other person, in whole or in part.

(c) You may not change, alter, modify or create derivative works, enhancements, extensions or add-ons to any of the LICENSED MATERIALS.

(d) You may not decompile, reverse engineer or disassemble any of the LICENSED MATERIALS, in whole or in part.

(e) You may not export the LICENSED MATERIALS outside of the country where you reside. (This clause 1(e) of Article 3 shall not be applicable within the European Economic Area (EEA).)

(f) You will at all times comply with, and will not circumvent or attempt to circumvent, any of the restrictions on use set forth in this Article 3 or elsewhere in this EULA.

2. In the event that the owner of the LICENSED MATERIALS is a party other than SONY BMG (each, a “LICENSOR”), you agree that such LICENSOR shall be a third party beneficiary under this EULA and, as such, shall have the right to enforce the terms and conditions of this EULA that pertain directly to such LICENSOR’S rights in and to the LICENSED MATERIALS concerned as if such LICENSOR was a party to this EULA. The rights granted to a Licensor under this Article shall not be revoked.

3. SONY BMG and each LICENSOR reserve the right to use the SOFTWARE and/or any APPROVED MEDIA PLAYER to enforce their respective rights in and to the DIGITAL CONTENT, including any and all of the restrictions on use set forth in this Article 3, at any time, without notice to you.

Article 4. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

All title to, and intellectual property rights in, the LICENSED MATERIALS and any related documents are and shall remain owned and/or controlled solely and exclusively by SONY BMG and/or its LICENSORS. SONY BMG and/or all respective LICENSORS reserve all rights in the LICENSED MATERIALS not specifically granted to you under this EULA.

Article 5. EXCLUSION OF WARRANTIES

YOU EXPRESSLY ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT YOU ARE INSTALLING AND USING THE LICENSED MATERIALS AT YOUR OWN SOLE RISK. THE LICENSED MATERIALS ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND WITHOUT WARRANTY, TERM OR CONDITION OF ANY KIND, AND SONY BMG, ITS LICENSORS AND EACH OF THEIR LICENSEES, AFFILIATES AND AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVES (EACH, A “SONY BMG PARTY”) EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, TERMS OR CONDITIONS. EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, SATISFACTORY QUALITY, NON-INFRINGEMENT AND FITNESS FOR A GENERAL OR PARTICULAR PURPOSE. NO ORAL, WRITTEN OR ELECTRONIC INFORMATION OR ADVICE GIVEN BY ANY SONY BMG PARTY SHALL CREATE ANY WARRANTY, TERM OR CONDITION WITH RESPECT TO THE LICENSED MATERIALS OR OTHERWISE. SHOULD THE LICENSED MATERIALS PROVE TO BE DEFECTIVE, YOU (AND NOT THE SONY BMG PARTY CONCERNED) AGREE TO ASSUME THE ENTIRE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIRS OR CORRECTIONS. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES, TERMS OR CONDITIONS IN CERTAIN INSTANCES, SO THE ABOVE EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. THIS ARTICLE WILL NOT APPLY ONLY WHEN AND TO THE EXTENT THAT APPLICABLE LAW SPECIFICALLY MANDATES LIABILITY, DESPITE THE FOREGOING DISCLAIMER, EXCLUSION AND LIMITATION.

Article 6. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

NO SONY BMG PARTY SHALL BE LIABLE FOR ANY LOSS OR DAMAGE, EITHER DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR OTHERWISE, ARISING OUT OF THE BREACH OF ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY, TERM OR CONDITION, BREACH OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY MISREPRESENTATION, FAILURE OF ANY REMEDY TO ACHIEVE ITS ESSENTIAL PURPOSE OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY ARISING OUT OF, OR RELATED TO, THIS EULA OR YOUR USE OF ANY OF THE LICENSED MATERIALS (SUCH DAMAGES INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, LOSS OF PROFITS, LOSS OF REVENUE, LOSS OF DATA, LOSS OF USE OF THE PRODUCT OR ANY ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT, DOWN TIME AND USER’S TIME), EVEN IF THE SONY BMG PARTY CONCERNED HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. IN ANY CASE, THE ENTIRE LIABILITY OF THE SONY BMG PARTIES, COLLECTIVELY, UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THIS EULA SHALL BE LIMITED TO FIVE US DOLLARS (US $5.00). SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES IN CERTAIN INSTANCES, SO THE ABOVE EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. THIS ARTICLE WILL NOT APPLY ONLY WHEN AND TO THE EXTENT THAT APPLICABLE LAW SPECIFICALLY REQUIRES LIABILITY DESPITE THE FOREGOING DISCLAIMER, EXCLUSION AND LIMITATION.

Article 7. DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF YOUR ACTIONS

You shall defend and hold the SONY BMG PARTIES harmless from and against any and all liabilities, damages, costs, expenses or losses arising out of your use of the LICENSED MATERIALS, your negligent or wrongful acts, your violation of any applicable laws or regulations, and/or your breach of any provision of this EULA.

Article 8. UPDATES TO THE LICENSED MATERIALS

The SONY BMG PARTIES may from time to time provide you with updates of the SOFTWARE in a manner that the SONY BMG PARTIES deem to be appropriate. All such updates shall be deemed to be part of the SOFTWARE for all purposes hereunder. In the event that you fail to install an update, the SONY BMG PARTIES reserve the right to terminate the term of this EULA, along with your rights to use the LICENSED MATERIALS, immediately, without additional notice to you. The SONY BMG PARTIES shall not be liable for any loss or damage caused by reason of your failure to install any such update or your failure to do so in the manner instructed.

Article 9. EXPIRATION AND TERMINATION

1. The rights granted to you hereunder to use the DIGITAL CONTENT are conditioned upon your continued possession of, and your continued right under a license from SONY BMG to use, the original CD product that you purchased. In the event that you no longer possess or have the right under such license to use the original CD product, your rights hereunder to use the DIGITAL CONTENT shall expire immediately, without notice from SONY BMG.

2. Without prejudice to any other rights SONY BMG or any SONY BMG PARTY may have hereunder, the term of this EULA shall terminate immediately, without notice from SONY BMG, and all rights you may have hereunder to use the LICENSED MATERIALS shall be immediately revoked, in the event that you: (i) fail to comply with any provision of this EULA, (ii) fail to install an update of the SOFTWARE that was previously provided to you by the SONY BMG PARTIES within the time specified, or (iii) file a voluntary petition or are subject to an involuntary petition under applicable bankruptcy laws, are declared insolvent, make an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or are served with a writ of attachment , writ of execution, garnishment or other legal process pertaining to any of your assets or property.

3. Upon the expiration or termination of this EULA, you shall immediately remove all of the LICENSED MATERIALS from your personal computer system and delete or destroy them, along with any related documentation (and any copies thereof) that you may have received or otherwise may possess.

4. Articles 4 (Intellectual Property Rights), 6 (Limitation of Liability), 7 (Damages Arising Out Of Your Actions), 9 (Expiration and Termination), 10 (Governing Law and Waiver of Trial By Jury), and 11 (General) shall survive and remain in full force and effect following the expiration or termination of this EULA

5. To the extent relevant under applicable law, you and SONY BMG each agree, for the effectiveness of the termination clauses under this EULA, to waive any provisions, procedures and operation of any applicable law that might otherwise require judicial approval or a court order in order to effect the termination of this EULA.

Article 10. GOVERNING LAW AND WAIVER OF TRIAL BY JURY

1. THE VALIDITY, INTERPRETATION AND LEGAL EFFECT OF THIS EULA SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS ENTERED INTO AND PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW YORK (WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES UNDER NEW YORK LAW). THE NEW YORK COURTS (STATE AND FEDERAL), SHALL HAVE SOLE JURISDICTION OF ANY CONTROVERSIES REGARDING THIS AGREEMENT; ANY ACTION OR OTHER PROCEEDING WHICH INVOLVES SUCH A CONTROVERSY SHALL BE BROUGHT IN THOSE COURTS IN NEW YORK COUNTY AND NOT ELSEWHERE. THE PARTIES WAIVE ANY AND ALL OBJECTIONS TO VENUE IN THOSE COURTS AND HEREBY SUBMIT TO THE JURISDICTION OF THOSE COURTS.

2. YOU HEREBY WAIVE ALL RIGHTS AND/OR ENTITLEMENT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN CONNECTION WITH ANY DISPUTE THAT ARISES OUT OF OR RELATES IN ANY WAY TO THIS EULA OR THE SOFTWARE.

Article 11. GENERAL

If any provision of this EULA is subsequently held to be invalid or unenforceable by any court or other authority, such invalidity or unenforceability shall in no way affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this EULA. This EULA shall be binding upon the parties’ authorized successors and assignees. Neither party’s waiver of any breach or failure to enforce any of the provision of this EULA at any time shall in any way affect, limit or waive such party’s right thereafter to enforce and compel strict compliance with every other provision. No modification of this EULA shall be effective unless it is set forth in a writing signed by SONY BMG.

(ID:239675.18 — 1/7/2005)

====================

See:-
De Winter Information Solutions – Spyware Sony seems to breach copyright, November 10, 2005
Saga – Sony BMG drops spyware DRM, November 12, 205
“enforce” its “rights” – You think Sony’s DRM is bad?, November 13, 2005

This entry was posted on Monday, November 14th, 2005 at 12:46 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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