For those of you that haven't been following this story, BoingBoing has been posting a series of stories on Sony's recent malfeasance, which basically involved installing security-compromising concealed spyware (two varieties) on your computer when you used it to play one of about 20 CDs that they've recently released, lying about having done so, distributing a "fix" that wasn't, distributing the CD under a completely ridiculous EULA--and failing to apologize even after having been caught repeatedly.
This is, of course, over and above selling a crippled CD in the first place that would only let you play or copy it (a limited number of times) using software found on the disc. (What happens if your backups go south? SOL, it seems.)
The only redeeming part of this story is that someone discovered that apparently Sony's spyware-concealing software can be used to defeat the recently-unearthed World of Warcraft spyware. Oh, the irony...
Anyway, BoingBoing has now posted a summary article (with links to the previous articles) so that you can catch up.
I'm now debating whether I want to go to the trouble of tracking down contact information for Sony so that I can tell them that I'm (this close to) boycotting their products of any sort (including their digital cameras, which I have been seriously considering purchasing). If I do, I'll update this post with a copy of the letter.
This is, of course, over and above selling a crippled CD in the first place that would only let you play or copy it (a limited number of times) using software found on the disc. (What happens if your backups go south? SOL, it seems.)
The only redeeming part of this story is that someone discovered that apparently Sony's spyware-concealing software can be used to defeat the recently-unearthed World of Warcraft spyware. Oh, the irony...
Anyway, BoingBoing has now posted a summary article (with links to the previous articles) so that you can catch up.
I'm now debating whether I want to go to the trouble of tracking down contact information for Sony so that I can tell them that I'm (this close to) boycotting their products of any sort (including their digital cameras, which I have been seriously considering purchasing). If I do, I'll update this post with a copy of the letter.