Sony Sued Over DRM Rootkit

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) filed a class-action lawsuit against Sony (Quote, Chart) BMG on Monday.

Two other legal firms, Green Welling and Lerach, Coughlin, Stoia, Geller, Rudman and Robbins, joined the digital consumer advocacy group in the suit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

The lawsuit is the EFF’s response to the music giant’s tepid acknowledgment of the security and privacy issues that came with music released on copy-protected music CDs, lawyers said.

The EFF is seeking compensation for any damages caused by the digital rights management technology and a refund for the copy-protected CDs, lawyers stated.

It’s the second legal challenge to Sony BMG in one day. The attorney general for Texas also filed a suit against the music giant for allegedly violating the Consumer Protection Against Computer Spyware Act of 2005.

“Sony has engaged in a technological version of cloak-and-dagger deceit against consumers by hiding secret files on their computers,” Greg Abbot, Texas attorney general, said in a statement. “Consumers who purchased a Sony CD thought they were buying music. Instead, they received spyware that can damage a computer, subject it to viruses and expose the consumer to possible identity crime.”

The state is seeking civil penalties of $100,000 for every violation of the anti-spyware law, attorney’s fees and investigative costs.

Full article: internetnews.com