Sony DRM scumware cloaked in music CD <+ORCL 'free' DB bunk>
http://developers.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=05/10/31/0659254
Oracle To Offer A Free Database: "Re:what a wimpy database
(Score:5, Informative)
by smitty_one_each (243267) * Alter Relationship
(http://www.emacswiki...iki/ChristopherSmith | Last Journal: Friday July 22, @07:43AM)
The thing about PostGreSQL that trumps the competition, IMHO, is that you can build in support for tools such as Python on the DB server.
PL/pgSQL bears a resemblance to PL/SQL, and both languages are servicable enough. Oracle cooks in its own JVM. While Java is an undeniably powerful tool, one feels relatively enslaved to the JVM, compared to the bliss of simple, clear Python code.
--
VIRI NON SVMVSNE DEVO SVMVS"
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Clearly, Oracle has bought a major disk drive company. Have you ever downloaded or tried to install Oracle? It's easily 10 Gigs of useless crud, wrapped around a few CD's of material actually relevant to your particular setup. For Linux, they publish it as a set of binary bundles that have to be strung together so that you can *then* take apart the tarball. What a waste of disk space!
The approach shows up in everything they do. Build a huge, conglomerated edifice of software to provide the one brick you actually need, rather than keeping components modular and portable. It's like making people install a whole radio station just to get a pair of headphones.
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http://www.sysinternals.com/blog/2005/10/sony-rootkits-and-digital-rights.html
Sony, Rootkits and Digital Rights Management Gone Too Far
Last week when I was testing the latest version of RootkitRevealer (RKR) I ran a scan on one of my systems and was shocked to see evidence of a rootkit. Rootkits are cloaking technologies that hide files, Registry keys, and other system objects from diagnostic and security software, and they are usually employed by malware attempting to keep their implementation hidden (see my “Unearthing Rootkits” article from thre June issue of Windows IT Pro Magazine for more information on rootkits). The RKR results window reported a hidden directory, several hidden device drivers, and a hidden application:
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http://it.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=05/10/31/2016223
Re:Sony is protected by the DMCA
(Score:5, Informative)
by plilja (91030) Alter Relationship on Monday October 31, @10:27PM (#13920992)
Actually, many folks misread this section of the DMCA. The DMCA allows an individual to circumvent copy protection for thier own use through the "fair use" provision.
What it prohibits is the disemination of knowlege and tools on how to circumvent copy protection.
Anyone is free to do anything they want to rid themselves of any copy protection on media they own...as long as they keep the knowlege of it entirely to themselves. (There are some exceptions for encryption research and, to a lesser extent security research, as well)
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Re:Sony is protected by the DMCA
(Score:5, Informative)
by Alsee (515537) Alter Relationship on Tuesday November 01, @04:44AM (#13922236)
(http://slashdot.org/)
I don't know why this idea keeps cropping up, and particularly why it got modded to 5. The DMCA most certainly does NOT permit circumvention for Fair Use purposes.
US Law Title 17 section 1201: [cornell.edu]
Circumvention of copyright protection systems
(a) Violations Regarding Circumvention of Technological Measures.--
(1) (A) No person shall circumvent a technological measure that effectively controls access to a work protected under this title.
The act of circumvention itself is indeed criminalized by the DMCA.
Note that the DMCA also says:
(c) Other Rights, Etc., Not Affected.--(1) Nothing in this section shall affect rights, remedies, limitations, or defenses to copyright infringement, including fair use, under this title.
That sounds pretty good, right? Except it's pure bullshit, law literally written by lawyers employed by the publishing industry. It means absolutely ZERO. It says it protects/preserves Fair Use defenses to Copyright Infringment. However CIRCUMVENTION CRIME is not copyright infringment. Circumvention crime has absolutely nothing to do with copyright infringment. There is no Fair Use defence to cricumvention crime. So what that section really says is that a NONEXISTENT defence is not affected. It sure sounded nice hough, didn't it?
-
--
- -EFF link: Fight the DMCA [eff.org]
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In democratic america...
(Score:5, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 31, @05:06PM (#13919071)
hrm, so much for humor. I don't find it funny at all
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Re:In democratic america...
(Score:5, Insightful)i don my tinfoil hat and robe...
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Re:In democratic america...
(Score:5, Informative) by nmb3000 (741169) 
<nmb3000@that-google-mail-site.com> on Monday October 31, @05:50PM (#13919456)
(http://www.khaaan.com/ | Last Journal: Friday October 28, @11:42PM)
<nmb3000@that-google-mail-site.com> on Monday October 31, @05:50PM (#13919456) (http://www.khaaan.com/ | Last Journal: Friday October 28, @11:42PM)
corporations exploit YOU!
Insightful indeed.
The thing is that there is more than a corporation here. The artist that chose to sign with Sony is now going to feel the repercussions of this dirty little trick Sony tried to play. Do you think that Sony really cares if they loose a few sales of this one CD because they got caught red-handed? Of course not.
These record labels are not only exploiting the consumer, but they are screwing over the artists that depend on them for advertising and distribution. Here is contact information [thevanzants.com] for Van Zant [thevanzants.com]. Let them know that you're pissed. Let them know you won't be buying their CD. Let them know that they were screwed by Sony. While you're at it, why not let First4Internet [first4internet.com] know that you hate them and hope they burn in Hell for writing malware like this. A few thousand emails will do wonders for these jerks.
If enough artists move away from these corporate labels it can only mean good things for the consumers. It's not impossible for this to happen, just extremely difficult.
Insightful indeed.
The thing is that there is more than a corporation here. The artist that chose to sign with Sony is now going to feel the repercussions of this dirty little trick Sony tried to play. Do you think that Sony really cares if they loose a few sales of this one CD because they got caught red-handed? Of course not.
These record labels are not only exploiting the consumer, but they are screwing over the artists that depend on them for advertising and distribution. Here is contact information [thevanzants.com] for Van Zant [thevanzants.com]. Let them know that you're pissed. Let them know you won't be buying their CD. Let them know that they were screwed by Sony. While you're at it, why not let First4Internet [first4internet.com] know that you hate them and hope they burn in Hell for writing malware like this. A few thousand emails will do wonders for these jerks.
If enough artists move away from these corporate labels it can only mean good things for the consumers. It's not impossible for this to happen, just extremely difficult.
--
I am the proud winner of the very first ThinkGeek No-Prize, awarded by Mark S. on June 2, 2005. Envy me!
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I am the proud winner of the very first ThinkGeek No-Prize, awarded by Mark S. on June 2, 2005. Envy me!
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Re:In democratic america...
(Score:5, Insightful)In democratic America... corporations exploit YOU!
I've read two relevant quotes.
"Democracy is the theory that the people know what they want and deserve to get it good and hard."
"In communism, man exploits man. In capitalism, it's the other way around."
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Britain's Computer Misuse Act...
(Score:5, Interesting) by jd (1658) on Monday October 31, @06:00PM (#13919546)
(http://slashdot.org/ | Last Journal: Friday July 29, @11:33PM)
on Monday October 31, @06:00PM (#13919546) (http://slashdot.org/ | Last Journal: Friday July 29, @11:33PM)
...could probably be used in this way, for this software. The program was unquestionably not authorized by the user, as it is not declared in the EULA. As there is no apparent (yet) "Phone Home" capability, it would not violate the Data Protection Act. It might violate tresspass/break-and-entry laws, as the only reason the hacker of Prince Philip's e-mail account escaped conviction was that a transient tool was not considered a lockpick. This is a permanent tool that permits repeated intrusion, so I would guess the courts would be more sympathetic to the argument that it was breaking and entering. IANAL, but most people in computing in Britain have covered the DPA and CMA to some degree, because these are things IT people need to be careful of. It is possible - though unlikely - that the EU could also prosecute Sony over this, as it may infringe on privacy and computer protection laws in Europe. It's very doubtful the EU would take such action - they barely took any action against Microsoft for anything it did - but if Sony or other companies agravate the situation enough, there ARE elections in Italy coming up and the ruling elite there could do with someone to victimize.
America - well, there's no privacy in the US of A. The trade in personal information is open and widespread. There is an excellent chance that if anyone tried to prosecute Sony over privacy infringements that it would be laughed out of court. You can't protect what you don't have. Posession is 9/10ths of the law, and Americans posess very little - much as they often like to believe otherwise.
Sony actually has a much stronger case. Reverse-engineering their DRM scheme is in direct violation of both the letter AND the spirit of the DMCA, which is explicitly intended to prohibit exactly this kind of research (ie: the study of the spyware) and this kind of result (ie: the removal of it, afterwards). Depending on who Sony licensed the rootkit from, there is a possibility it might also violate aspects of the PATRIOT act. (If the rootkit is also used by any law enforcement groups, then this study could compromise wiretapping provisions in the act.)
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Not that this makes it better in any way, but I liked how he said
I hadn't noticed when I purchased the CD from Amazon.com that it's protected with DRM software, but if I had looked more closely at the text on the Amazon.com web page I would have known
followed by a picture of the amazon web page in question with [CONTENT/COPY-PROTECTED CD] clearly visible in massive letters.
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"There won't be ANYTHING we won't say to people to try and convince them that OUR way is the way to go. " --Bill Gates
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What do we need to make our world come alive? What does it take to make us sing? (SoM)
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Didn't Notice?
(Score:5, Funny)I hadn't noticed when I purchased the CD from Amazon.com that it's protected with DRM software, but if I had looked more closely at the text on the Amazon.com web page I would have known
followed by a picture of the amazon web page in question with [CONTENT/COPY-PROTECTED CD] clearly visible in massive letters.
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"There won't be ANYTHING we won't say to people to try and convince them that OUR way is the way to go. " --Bill Gates
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--
Not that this makes it better in any way, but I liked how he said
I hadn't noticed when I purchased the CD from Amazon.com that it's protected with DRM software, but if I had looked more closely at the text on the Amazon.com web page I would have known
followed by a picture of the amazon web page in question with [CONTENT/COPY-PROTECTED CD] clearly visible in massive letters.
----------------
"There won't be ANYTHING we won't say to people to try and convince them that OUR way is the way to go. " --Bill Gates
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Turn off autorun [annoyances.org].
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What do we need to make our world come alive? What does it take to make us sing? (SoM)
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Didn't Notice?
(Score:5, Funny)I hadn't noticed when I purchased the CD from Amazon.com that it's protected with DRM software, but if I had looked more closely at the text on the Amazon.com web page I would have known
followed by a picture of the amazon web page in question with [CONTENT/COPY-PROTECTED CD] clearly visible in massive letters.
----------------
"There won't be ANYTHING we won't say to people to try and convince them that OUR way is the way to go. " --Bill Gates
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Turn off autorun [annoyances.org].
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Damn, I thought I was first
(Score:5, Interesting) by muzzy (164903) on Monday October 31, @07:40PM (#13920163)
(http://www.muzzy.net/ | Last Journal: Thursday November 07, @11:58PM)
on Monday October 31, @07:40PM (#13920163) (http://www.muzzy.net/ | Last Journal: Thursday November 07, @11:58PM)
I thought I was ahead of time, when I implemented a rootkit DRM just a few days ago. My rootkit is a part of my project, trying to show how malware and DRM systems can get really close to each others, and both get protected by law. Under EU Copyright Directive, it's going to be illegal to remove this rootkit.
You can read about my copyright projects here:
http://muzzy.net/files/copyright_projects_en.txt [muzzy.net]
You can read about my copyright projects here:
http://muzzy.net/files/copyright_projects_en.txt [muzzy.net]
--
/* mZ^WC */
posted by USSSlavebation @ 11/01/2005 01:27:00 pm
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