avoid Sony DRM-protected CDs

[acroyear]

Someone with the knowledge and tools discovered their software for permitting you to make backup copies (and in doing so, theoretically limit you to three, max) is a major root-kit that abuses your system and does somewhat nasty things.  They also work rather hard to hide the fact that the software exists and in no point of the EULA of the software does it say that you as the consumer agree to having this software daemon installed on your box.

(note: to avoid DRM-protection on import cds from the EU, particularly Spain and France, look for cds from the same label's canadian division at amazon.ca -- Mike Oldfield's TB 2003 was "protected" in its Time-Warner-Spain release, but its Time-Warner-Canada release had no protections at all.)

Keep reading the followup articles linked at the bottom -- the story gets worse...