Sony’s started putting some new DRM (copy protection) software on its DVDs — that even breaks new Sony DVD players. Nicely done, guys! Here’s one Sony DVD player owner’s discussion with their tech line.
Sony Tech: We know about this problem. Its our new copy protection that’s making these discs unplayable in some players including our own, we do not intend to change the copy protection. The only correction to this problem is a firmware update to your player. The electronics division know about this and should have given you this information.
Me: OK send me the firmware update.
Sony Tech: We do not have one as yet.
Me: OK (a bit frustrated) when will it be available?
Sony Tech: It could be 2 weeks it could be a month, we don’t know.
But at least the customer will know his DVD is safe from piracy in the meantime!
In the meantime, if you are looking to buy any new DVDs from Sony, you might want to do some online research to see if they are so protected, and if folks who have the same DVD player as you are reporting problems. Or, y’know, if that’s too much work … you could just not buy any new Sony DVDs …
The lesson here is to always buy material that is already pirated. Thanks for the lesson, Sony.
Sony says that, despite what was asserted above, they have changed their DRM to “fix” the problem they introduced. They’re now blaming and update to the ARccOS DRM they say they’ve been using for the past few years. A subsequent update allegedly resolves the problem.
The article notes Sony (who claims that the number of problems reported to them has been trivial) is offering to replace existing discs that were sent out with problems, and has a phone number if that includes you.
(Dave makes note to check any recent DVDs he’s purchased …)
Wait… this is the same Sony that snuck a root kit into their media a while back? I think I’ll stick with my original lesson.
(Note to industry spies who may be reading this: I am speaking ironically, which is a type of “humor”. Don’t worry, I quit buying music years ago, after the Beatles and Steely Dan broke up. And I rent movies. I’d buy them, but you know, “DRM”.)