Texas sues SONY under anti spyware laws...

[sarettah]

Good think I just download all my music

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/finan...e_down&chan=db

The state sued Sony BMG Music Entertainment on Monday under its new anti-spyware law, saying anti-piracy technology the company slipped into music CDs leaves huge security holes on consumers' computers.

The lawsuit is over the so-called XCP technology that Sony had added to more than 50 CDs to restrict to three the number of times a single disc could be copied.

To enforce the restrictions, the CD automatically installed the copy-protection program when discs were put into a PC -- a necessary step for transferring music to iPods and other portable music players.
Attorney General Greg Abbott accused Sony BMG of surreptitiously installing "spyware" in the form of files that mask other files Sony installed as part of XCP.

.................................................. ................

The term "spyware" has been used broadly to cover programs that are installed without users' full knowledge and consent, whether or not they actually spy on a user's activities.

.................................................. ................

Sony BMG initially rejected the uproar over XCP as technobabble.

But after security experts discovered that XCP opened gaping security holes in users' computers -- as did the method Sony BMG offered for removing XCP -- Sony BMG agreed last week to recall the discs.