WASHINGTON - Faced with loud protests and criticism over the incorporation of anti-piracy technology in its music CDs, the world's second-largest music label, Sony BMG Music Entertainment has agreed to temporarily suspend the production of these CDs.
John McKay, a Sony spokesperson confirmed that the company had indeed suspended the manufacturing of the CDs that contain the anti-piracy software called XCP (Extended Copy Protection). In a statement posted on its website, Sony said, "We stand by content protection technology as an important tool to protect our intellectual property rights and those of our artists. Nonetheless, as a precautionary measure, Sony BMG is temporarily suspending the manufacture of CDs containing XCP technology."
UK software vendor First 4 Internet LLC had developed the XCP technology for Sony. The software started shipping since early 2005 and covers about 20 titles including Van Zant's "Get Right with the Man." Basically, the technology is designed to limit the number of copies that a person can make.
The problem with the software was brought to the public notice when Mark Russinovich, a Windows operating system expert reported that XCP used "rootkit," a technology that hides into a computer by masking itself. Russinovich also reported that it had become extremely difficult to detect the software and criticized Sony for making such CDs.
The fear was that malicious hackers could use the technology to transmit lethal viruses. This fear was realized yesterday when it emerged that a 'Trojan' began circulating on the Internet. This used the XCP's cloaking ability to hide itself from anti-virus software.
Faced with this evidence Sony suspended the manufacture of the CDs. But lawyers in California and New York have already filed class action lawsuits alleging that the software was illegal.
