SONY BMG COMMENT
The First 4 Internet content protection technology is completely benign; it is not adware, it is not spyware, it is simply and plainly content protection. The player does not collect any information on consumers.
When users place the content protected discs in their computers, they must first click on an end user license agreement, known as a EULA, which informs the user that content protection software will be downloaded to their computer, and remain there until they choose to uninstall it.
This content protection has always been easily removable -- anyone who has wished – or wishes - to remove the content protection can go to the Sony BMG content protection site and request information on how to do so. Users have always been given the link to the content protection site --
http://cp.sonybmg.com/xcp/english/faq.html -- on the discs outside packaging and within the Readme file on the disc.
In response to concerns, First 4 Internet has created a patch that removes a “cloaking” element, which was designed to increase the security of the content protection technology. Thus even the theoretical issue – and that is all it ever was – has already been addressed, long before there was any actual problem.
It is essential to realize that content protection strategies were created in response to extremely high levels of piracy; in fact, according to independent studies, over 30% of music acquisition takes place through ripping and burning CDs. As a result SONY BMG has implemented a technology that provides all of the functionality that consumers want – the ability to make a limited number of burns, to transfer to portable devices, and to play music on their computers – while deterring rampant piracy.
