Sony BMG Root Kit Settlement Approved

On Monday, May 22, federal judge Naomi Reice Buchwald granted final approval to the settlement of the class action suit brought against Sony BMG for embedding intrusive and crippling digital rights management (DRM) software into its CDs. Not only did the software load secretly onto users' computers, it opened them to malware invasions, in addition to reportedly sending Sony information about consumers' computers.

The agreement covers anyone who "purchased, received, or used" CDs containing the flawed DRM after August 2003. Sony has ceased manufacturing CDs with the offending software. The company will also submit any future DRM schemes it might use to a third party for review, and label all CDs that it "protects" with DRM.

The settlement entitles consumers to new, non–DRM-crippled copies of the CDs they purchased, a patch to remove the XCP or MediaMax software from infected machines, and free downloads. Sony has established a claims page for consumers to apply for the settlement, as well as a list of the infected discs.

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