Some CD buyers in Texas and California can claim up to $175 each from record company Sony BMG as a result of a legal settlement this week. Both states took action against the music giant over its "rootkit-style" DRM, designed to prevent PC users from copying music CDs to their hard drives.
The complaints allege that Sony BMG failed to notify consumers of the presence of the DRM on the outer-packaging, and therefore loaded unauthorised software onto their PCs. Sony used software called XCP (Extended Copy Protection) created for it by British company First4Internet Ltd to prevent copies being made. XCP was dubbed a "rootkit" because it took over basic system level functions, then concealed its presence. The DRM compromised users" security and knocked some CD drives out of action. Uninstallation was only possible by sending a request to Sony BMG"s customer support line.