Help EFF Spread the Word About the Sony BMG Settlement

It's time for music fans who bought Sony BMG CDs loaded with
harmful XCP or MediaMax copy protection to claim their
settlement benefits: clean versions of the music, plus (in
many cases) additional downloads and cash. Submitting a
claim not only gets fans music that will play on their
computers without restriction or security risk, it lets Sony
BMG know that consumers care about this issue. And for those
who have not yet protected their computers, it's long past
time to download the uninstallers that will sweep that DRM
off of systems and eliminate its dangerous security risks.

But Sony BMG won't be held accountable if music fans don't
have an easy way to learn about the flawed software, the
settlement, and how to submit claims. That's where EFF needs
your help. Along with creating an easy link to the Sony BMG
Settlement site, we've created several banners that also
link to the site. By posting a banner on your website or
blog, you can help music fans protect themselves and get
what they deserve.

To get the banners:
http://www.eff.org/sony/banners.php

To submit your Sony BMG settlement claim:
http://www.eff.org/sony/

For litigation documents and frequently asked questions:
http://www.eff.org/IP/DRM/Sony-BMG/

The settlement process has begun in The Electronic Frontier Foundation
class action lawsuit against Sony BMG for the flawed digital rights
management(DRM) that Sony BMG released in millions of CDs over the last
several years.

DMusic has been working with EFF to notify as may people as possible so
they can get some redress against Sony BMG pursuant to the class action
settlement, or alternatively, choose to seek compensation against Sony
BMG
individual in their own lawsuit.

Music fans who bought the affected CDs can submit claims for clean
music. Many customers are also eligible for extra downloads or a small
cash settlement.

SO PLEASE CHECK OUT http://www.eff.org/sony/ for more details about the
settlement, including a list of the CDs affected. AND MAKE sure you
don't stick an infected CD in your computer - it will plant malicious
spyware that is difficult to remove!

Folks, be sure to read up on some of the comments from the "peanut gallery" over at Slashdot about the Sony BMG Settlement:

Slashdot Comments

Some GREAT insightful stuff about it there!

Re: "Some GREAT insightful stuff about the settlement (at Slashdot)". . .

True dat.

Them Slashdot folks have always been a model of what I have always envisioned we could be...

...but they have too broad a range of interests. (Slashdot talks about anything and everything, where-as WE at Boycott-Riaa are intended to mostly stick to OUR kinda issues/topics.)

But WOW! The on-topic participation and overall behavior of Slashdot's usership has always impressed me. I know that Slashdot itself doesn't have any narrow "defined" goal/agenda as does Boycott-Riaa, and I don't realistically ever think we could be that "big" ...but they certainly DO have the "model" of a forum/community thingy down pat.

I almost wish I had bought one of these turkeys so I could get in on the fun. But, I'm too careful to get caught buying spyware-infested CDs. And if I had any RIAA stuff, likely it would have been purchased used. So, no soup for me.

Spread the word.

No SOUP of settlement needed for you.

And that's about an apt a word as any to desribe this settlement which lacks sturdy MEAT.

I really must defer to Shashdot's forum on this topic because of the various (and frequently good) perspectives the various posters have presented there.

(Click on the link furnished by Shmoo at 2:06 AM.)

Did you guys really expect much of a settlement from Sony? I just pulled up recent invoicing in our accounting system, We've probably raked in a little over 3grand or so repairing systems hit by the sony rootkit program... That's pretty sad. Sony should refund these people, and pay us for having to take the time to learn the damn thing... to kill it.

I read some of the comments over at Slashdot a good read. Will have to go back when I have more time.
Settlement ? What settlement ? Thats still doing buzz as usual. Do you really think they did not know what their rootkit would do? Come on now. My right hand knows what the left hand is doing. It is the same with sony. I know when I buy a use car. I take it to my friend the mechanic. I'm sure they had their programers looking it over. As for intent they put it in the cd and sold it. It is music not software that they are selling, or is it control?

Mostly control.

You know, just like hawk7771 and RaidHHI and others, I look at the terms of the settlement and think: Does this so-called settlement really "settle" the important issues in this case??
I submit that the most important concerns are conspicuous by their absence.

Did anyone really expect Sony to pay a heavy price? Who are we kidding?

I say, don't look to the law for a remedy. In court actions, everyone knows that compromises are made, deals get cut, and everybody gets a little cash out of it. I'm not jumping on lawyers, it's just a fact of life.

Go to the biggest weapon a consumer can have: the marketplace. STOP BUYING ALL SONY PRODUCTS. Smack 'em upside the head big time. Hit them where it does the most damage.

Of course, if you absolutely can't live without that Playstation, Sony's MP3 players, and those insipid "music" offerings that Sony puts out, then bend over for Sony, and keep contributing your hard earned money to their corporate coffers.

Don't expect the courts to help you. Caveat emptor.

And , NO, I do NOT advocate downloading any of Sony's offerings to avoid paying for them.

All that does is create demand for their crap. No different than buying it, as far as I'm concerned. Leave it laying in the gutter where it belongs.