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BBC NEWS | Technology | Free downloads end Sony CD saga:

Free downloads end Sony CD saga
Dido (BBC)
British singer Dido is one of the artists affected
Millions of music fans will be given free music downloads or money to compensate for flawed anti-piracy software on CDs from label Sony BMG.

The final approval to the settlement for lawsuits against the music giant was granted by a US judge on Monday.

Sony BMG was accused of using copy protection program on CDs that left computers vulnerable to hackers.

The episode caused much embarrassment for the world's second largest music label.

Hidden files

The dispute began in November 2005 after software developer Mark Russinovich found that anti-piracy software XCP used by Sony employed virus-like techniques to hide itself on PCs.

This cloaked technology, he said, could be exploited by hackers. Following the reports, several lawsuits were taken against the record label.

At the same time, other consumers took action over Sony CDs that were being protected with another anti-piracy technology known as MediaMax.

According to the settlement, consumers who bought a CD with the XCP software can receive a replacement disc. They will also receive either a cash payment of $7.50 and one free album download, or three free album downloads.

Those with discs with MediaMax will only get free downloads.

of course the question is 1) how do i sign up (I got the G3 Live album with the hackjob software on it), and 2) does Sony have anything worth getting via download?

found out - the settlement site is http://www.sonybmgcdtechsettlement.com/

and I was right - the list of albums you can download sucks.

speaking of hack-jobs...

Hoopty Rides: Is the Complete New Yorker Spyware?:

Is the Complete New Yorker Spyware?
From The Complete New Yorker End User License Agreement:

7. Collection of Viewing Information. You acknowledge that you are aware of and consent to the collection of your viewing information during your use of the Software and/or Content. Viewing information may include, without limitation, the time spent viewing specific pages, the order in which pages are viewed, the time of day pages are accessed, IP address and user ID. This viewing information may be linked to personally identifiable information, such as name or address and shared with third parties.

When you buy a piece of software or CD or digital music file, you are entering into an agreement to abide by the laws of a banana republic. Existing law is set aside as you agree to a whole host of other laws by clicking the 'YES' button. Perhaps the dictator is benevolent and the laws are not onerous but, maybe the laws are insidious.

In the case of the Complete New Yorker, you give up your privacy. Perhaps the New Yorker will sell your name to Starbucks if your reading profile suggests an epicure. Or, if you are interested in reading about automobiles, perhaps Buick will soon be pitching you the Lucerne - a Buick for sophisticates. But what if your spying dictator is not benevolent? Who do they sell the Islam reading list to?

"Oh, but ain't that America, home of the free!" -- John Cougar Mellencamp

The random comments on random music

well, its not so random this time.  my playlist has been orchestral music all day (baroque, classical, romantic, impressionistic, 20th century neo-classical and neo-romantic, and film scores)

one can't really "randomize" classical music the way one can randomize a rock or 80s list and think of it as a decent (or crappy) DJ.

so instead, i'll spend a bit of space and waste a bit of time on 10 of my favorate orchestral pieces out of my collection...
( its long, so i'll go ahead and cut this one... )