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Kevin Donnelly | 1 Nov 2005 23:16

Sony DRM CD installs rootkit

This is quite an interesting report (though he makes a bit of a meal of it) 
detailing how a rootkit gets installed on Microsoft Windows when you use the 
media-player on a Soney DRMed CD.  An excellent example of where large 
content companies intend to go with DRM, and the fact that it's probably 
illegal in at least 3 jurisdictions doesn't seem to faze them:
http://www.sysinternals.com/blog/2005/10/sony-rootkits-and-digital-rights.html

--

-- 

Pob hwyl / Best wishes

Kevin Donnelly

www.kyfieithu.co.uk - Meddalwedd Rhydd yn Gymraeg
www.cymrux.org.uk - Linux Cymraeg ar un CD
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Philip Hunt | 2 Nov 2005 03:25
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Re: Sony DRM CD installs rootkit

On Tuesday 01 November 2005 22:16, Kevin Donnelly wrote:
> This is quite an interesting report (though he makes a bit of a meal of it)
> detailing how a rootkit gets installed on Microsoft Windows when you use
> the media-player on a Soney DRMed CD.  An excellent example of where large
> content companies intend to go with DRM, and the fact that it's probably
> illegal in at least 3 jurisdictions doesn't seem to faze them:
> http://www.sysinternals.com/blog/2005/10/sony-rootkits-and-digital-rights.h
>tml

This could do with being written-up in a non-technical way i.e. so it'd be
meaningful to people like MPs, describing (1) what this system does,
(2) why it is bad, and (3) which laws (if any) it breaks.

--

-- 
Philip Hunt, zen19725 <at> zen.co.uk
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Lee Braiden | 2 Nov 2005 09:19

Re: Sony DRM CD installs rootkit

On Wednesday 02 November 2005 02:25, Philip Hunt wrote:
> This could do with being written-up in a non-technical way i.e. so it'd be
> meaningful to people like MPs, describing (1) what this system does,
> (2) why it is bad, and (3) which laws (if any) it breaks.

The EFF would probably publish it, too.  If anyone is willing to do it, they 
could contact the EFF for advice or other support.

--

-- 
Lee Braiden
http://www.DigitalUnleashed.com
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Kevin Donnelly | 7 Nov 2005 21:52

Sony DRM CD installs rootkit - and phones home!

This is a follow-up to the earlier story, which adds the info that the rootkit 
contacts a Sony server (according to Sony, this is only in order to load new 
artwork...)
http://www.sysinternals.com/blog/2005/11/more-on-sony-dangerous-decloaking.html

I think the funniest thing is the point made in the comments, that if you 
rename a ripping program using the rootkit's $sys$ name prefix, it will then 
be able to rip the "protected" music in 100% digital quality ....  obviously 
someone hasn't really thought through the implications of this DRM approach 
here.  Another wag notes that Sony may be guilty under the DMCA of cracking 
its own DRM ...

--

-- 

Pob hwyl / Best wishes

Kevin Donnelly

www.kyfieithu.co.uk - Meddalwedd Rhydd yn Gymraeg
www.cymrux.org.uk - Linux Cymraeg ar un CD
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J. Grant | 7 Nov 2005 21:36

BBC ClickOnline: "Open source turns money-spinner"

If not already seen, there is an article on the BBC:

"Open source turns money-spinner"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/click_online/4407742.stm

There is a video stream, but it is only available in RealNetworks's format:

http://stream.servstream.com/ViewWeb/BBCWorld/File/worl_click_031105_show_hi.rm?Media=71828

Kind regards
JG
--

-- 
Homepage: http://jguk.org/
Blog: http://jguk.org/blog.rss
Radio: http://jguk.org/#radio
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MJ Ray | 7 Nov 2005 23:03
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Re: BBC ClickOnline: "Open source turns money-spinner"

<jg <at> jguk.org>
> "Open source turns money-spinner"
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/click_online/4407742.stm
> 
> There is a video stream, but it is only available in RealNetworks's format:

Also available as WMV (which ffmpeg seems to decode) at
http://www.bbcworld.com/content/template_clickonline.asp?pageid=666&co_pageid=2
(got to love the pageid) which seems like a pretty full
transcript anyway or you can watch it on BBC World satellite
at 0130 or 0730 GMT tomorrow as it flies past for the last time.

It's pretty painful, confusing commercial/free/free/open/work/play
and much else besides. I thought it was a really unoriginal and
fairly dull package, wheeling out the usual suspects who aren't
doing much interesting and don't seem to have much new to say.
I'll email the programme, but I'm not sure where to start...
...any suggestions?

--

-- 
MJ Ray - personal email, see http://mjr.towers.org.uk/email.html
Work: http://www.ttllp.co.uk/  irc.oftc.net/slef  Jabber/SIP ask
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Andrew Savory | 8 Nov 2005 10:32
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Re: BBC ClickOnline: "Open source turns money-spinner"

Hi,

On 7 Nov 2005, at 22:03, MJ Ray wrote:

> I'll email the programme, but I'm not sure where to start...
> ...any suggestions?

Dear BBC,

Why oh why oh why oh why .... :-)

Andrew.

--
Andrew Savory, Managing Director, Luminas Limited
Tel: +44 (0)870 741 6658  Fax: +44 (0)700 598 1135
Web: http://www.luminas.co.uk/
Orixo alliance: http://www.orixo.com/
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Graham Seaman | 8 Nov 2005 22:28

Re: [OT-ish] Government food data

Graham Seaman wrote:

> The actual reply from HMSO was:
>
> "The Composition of Foods 6th Edition is available as follows:
>
> a) in printed format - published by the Royal Society of Chemistry, 
> price £45;
> b) in electronic format - as an excel spreadsheet, price £75 -this 
> version is held by HMSO. (The Nutrient Databank i.e. Composition of 
> Foods 6th Edition + Supplements is £300 - see attached list)
>
> To re-use the information from either of the above you require a 
> licence and an annual royalty/fee would be charged. The charge would 
> be dependant on the amount of information being re-used."

After some more discussion with HMSO (who I suspect are unhappy about 
the idea of me approaching them via my MP, which I suggested), they've 
agreed I can have a free license to use and redistribute the 
carbohydrate data only. That probably isn't all I 'll need in the end 
(I'm still learning about how diabetes works), but it seems like a good 
start. I know it lets the HMSO off the hook, since they can say they 
haven't changed their policy (what they're allowing is just the 
equivalent of fair use quotation, but in the context of database rights 
rather than traditional copyright), but it seems more practical to stick 
here and ask for more later if I can show I need it, rather than 
insisting on all or nothing now.

So it is worth keeping on pestering them over this type of issue. The 
more the better ;-)
(Continue reading)

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J. Grant | 9 Nov 2005 00:54

BBC Go Digital "Tech guru O'Reilly mashes it up"

If not already seen, and interested:

BBC Go Digital "Tech guru O'Reilly mashes it up"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4372728.stm

There are only RealNetworks's or Thompson's format version of the audio.

Kind regards
JG
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Philip Hunt | 9 Nov 2005 05:19
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Re: [OT-ish] Government food data

On Tuesday 08 November 2005 21:28, Graham Seaman wrote:
> Graham Seaman wrote:
> > The actual reply from HMSO was:
> >
> > "The Composition of Foods 6th Edition is available as follows:
> >
> > a) in printed format - published by the Royal Society of Chemistry,
> > price £45;
> > b) in electronic format - as an excel spreadsheet, price £75 -this
> > version is held by HMSO. (The Nutrient Databank i.e. Composition of
> > Foods 6th Edition + Supplements is £300 - see attached list)
> >
> > To re-use the information from either of the above you require a
> > licence and an annual royalty/fee would be charged. The charge would
> > be dependant on the amount of information being re-used."
>
> After some more discussion with HMSO (who I suspect are unhappy about
> the idea of me approaching them via my MP, which I suggested), they've
> agreed I can have a free license to use and redistribute the
> carbohydrate data only. That probably isn't all I 'll need in the end
> (I'm still learning about how diabetes works), but it seems like a good
> start. I know it lets the HMSO off the hook, since they can say they
> haven't changed their policy (what they're allowing is just the
> equivalent of fair use quotation, but in the context of database rights
> rather than traditional copyright),

What if you collate data from various sources? Theree are multiple sources
giving the nutritional values of foods, and if you use data from many of
them then surely you are not breaking copyright law, but merely doing
research? (IANAL)
(Continue reading)

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Gmane