Awhile back I linked to some interesting info (Keep Your Spyware Off My Chattels) about a Chicago judge tussleing with the contemporary issue of Spyware using older laws. Seems the legal eagle looked at computers as chattel, or personal property, and spyware as a form of trespass. I wonder how Sony's new foray into DRM, essentially installing root kits on your system in order to play one of their "Content enhanced & protected" CDs, would fare under the same legal approach?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know there's language on the shrink wrap and legalese that probably pops up in a scrollable window before the deceptive program installs that basically absolves Sony from any damage caused by their actions. Horse hockey. With word that this method of copy protection could be exploited by hackers and removing it can force a user to reinstall their system in order to get things back to order (unless you jump through some pretty amazing hoops) it sure adds some fuel to the who is ripping who off fire.
So, Sony, keep your root kits away from my chattels will you.
UPDATE: Michael (Simulacrum) has some things to say on this here and here as well.
