Flaws In CD Copy Protection Get Student Sued
Friday, October 10, 2003 by koop | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
A PhD. student at prestigous Princeton University published an article on why CD copy protection is a bad idea and how flawed a particular solution was. Now he is being sued for pointing out that you could disable this copy protection by just pressing the "Shift" key.
I have a brief article including links on my blog: http://kupe.joeuser.com
I have a brief article including links on my blog: http://kupe.joeuser.com
Aleatoric
Reply #4 Friday, October 10, 2003 3:38 PM
Reply #4 Friday, October 10, 2003 3:38 PM
SunnComm (I think I spelled that right), has apparently decided that they would no longer pursue a suit against this student. (The CEO quote was something to the effect of 'not wanting to have a chilling effect on research'). I think it's much more likely that the RIAA (or someone with the same mindset) told them not to sue, because they're afraid it might successfully challenge the DMCA. (A lawsuit in this instance would definitely demonstrate the foolishness (and possible unconstitutionality) of at least some parts of the DMCA).
Even as a strong supporter of copy rights, I think the DMCA is draconian, unconstitutional, and it also fails to honestly address the issue for which it was proposed (it's used far more often as a barrier to competition than it is used as an actual copyright protection mechanism).
As sad (and stupid) as such a lawsuit is, it might be worth it for it to proceed, as it could ultimately invalidate the DMCA (a good thing, IMHO).
Even as a strong supporter of copy rights, I think the DMCA is draconian, unconstitutional, and it also fails to honestly address the issue for which it was proposed (it's used far more often as a barrier to competition than it is used as an actual copyright protection mechanism).
As sad (and stupid) as such a lawsuit is, it might be worth it for it to proceed, as it could ultimately invalidate the DMCA (a good thing, IMHO).
citats
Reply #5 Friday, October 10, 2003 3:44 PM
Reply #5 Friday, October 10, 2003 3:44 PM
prevent autorun .... prevent auto startup items... etc... Hold Shift Key = windows basics 101.
By default I disable auto run on my cd drives...
geezzzz so sue me for it.
By default I disable auto run on my cd drives...
geezzzz so sue me for it.
Keila
Reply #7 Saturday, October 11, 2003 2:43 PM
Reply #7 Saturday, October 11, 2003 2:43 PM
I am quoting my brother by saying this but is is right.
| Saying the guy committed a crime by telling people what driver the software loads is even more ridiculous. In fact I don't see why the record company can't be prosecuted. Most people don't expect software to run on their system when they insert a music CD. Attempting to run a program on a computer without the users knowledge could be construed as hacker activity. |
themorphium
Reply #8 Saturday, October 11, 2003 2:55 PM
Reply #8 Saturday, October 11, 2003 2:55 PM
Thats the most stupid thing ive ever heard of. 
No75
Reply #9 Saturday, October 11, 2003 3:56 PM
Reply #9 Saturday, October 11, 2003 3:56 PM
Maybe SunnComm should thank this guy, at least they know what to do to fix the problem I think.
Chris
Reply #10 Saturday, October 11, 2003 4:04 PM
Reply #10 Saturday, October 11, 2003 4:04 PM
It's my understanding that they were aware of the flaw before the guy even wrote about it.
And I'd echo Keila's brother's concerns. It's marketed as a typical CD, when in effect it's really a CDROM that installs software on your computer under the radar without even a EULA or a notice or whatnot. To me, that's pretty much the same as a trojan
[Message Edited]
And I'd echo Keila's brother's concerns. It's marketed as a typical CD, when in effect it's really a CDROM that installs software on your computer under the radar without even a EULA or a notice or whatnot. To me, that's pretty much the same as a trojan
[Message Edited]
joetheblow
Reply #11 Saturday, October 11, 2003 4:26 PM
They install software on your computer in order to stop illigel ripping? I thought it was all in the CD without isnstalling anything?
Anyway, I think they dropped the suit. I read that on CNET's News.com website.
Frankly, that is a major flaw that you can press one key and disable a technology that probably cost a few thoughsand to develop. I wonder how it got past everyone in the development team?
Reply #11 Saturday, October 11, 2003 4:26 PM
They install software on your computer in order to stop illigel ripping? I thought it was all in the CD without isnstalling anything?
Anyway, I think they dropped the suit. I read that on CNET's News.com website.
Frankly, that is a major flaw that you can press one key and disable a technology that probably cost a few thoughsand to develop. I wonder how it got past everyone in the development team?
werewolf
Reply #12 Saturday, October 11, 2003 4:31 PM
Reply #12 Saturday, October 11, 2003 4:31 PM
the programers probably forgot to close their back door ?
IPlural
Reply #13 Saturday, October 11, 2003 11:24 PM
Reply #13 Saturday, October 11, 2003 11:24 PM
didn't sony try some type of protection on their play station games that was un-hackable and three 14 year olds and a black magic marker painted over the protection strip/ring beat it within 24 hours of it's release?
themorphium
Reply #14 Sunday, October 12, 2003 4:39 AM
Reply #14 Sunday, October 12, 2003 4:39 AM
The most interesting thing in this all is that You can disable their CD protection with one key. I wonder what the copy protection is.. AUTORUN ? A proggie that runs when You insert the disk with teh protection and protects it from copying ? There is one another method i think. If the protection is a program, it should have process. Press ctrl+alt+del and disable that process from running. Voila, disk is unprotected again. >
craeonics
Reply #15 Sunday, October 12, 2003 9:19 AM
Reply #15 Sunday, October 12, 2003 9:19 AM
Wouldn't want to blame the developers for such a dumb protection scheme, but rather the source of all evil in this world: the marketeers.
After all, they're the ones that decide what the developers should be developing and when it is suitable for production, while not being hindered by any technological insight into the situation.
Same thing with this lawsuit idea. Act first, think later.
After all, they're the ones that decide what the developers should be developing and when it is suitable for production, while not being hindered by any technological insight into the situation.
Same thing with this lawsuit idea. Act first, think later.
I.R. Brainiac
Reply #16 Sunday, October 12, 2003 11:52 AM
Reply #16 Sunday, October 12, 2003 11:52 AM
This has probably cost hte guy something even if they dropped the suit.He should sue them back and make an example of their stupidity.
IPlural
Reply #17 Sunday, October 12, 2003 7:00 PM
Reply #17 Sunday, October 12, 2003 7:00 PM
well, the government opened up a can of worms when they boxed up cracking under the label of terrorism considering there is not a legal definition that I know of yet. Hell they have been kicking around the idea of a legal definition for years, but every time they figured they had something, they realized that every government on this planet fell under the heading in some shape or form !
Probably should check the UN web site and see if they have finally come up with one yet.
Probably should check the UN web site and see if they have finally come up with one yet.
Cafeend
Reply #18 Tuesday, October 14, 2003 7:46 PM
Reply #18 Tuesday, October 14, 2003 7:46 PM
I read about this somewhere too, either on slashdot or the register.
The autorun feature is used to install a driver on your system. This driver detects the "copy protected" disc and only allows access to the protected WMA tracks and not the standard WAVs. (Excuse me if I've got this slightly wrong, but you get the gist
)
They did mention that the driver prompts with the standard "do you agree?" type of prompt before installing. If you don't agree, it doesn't install but then ejects the CD, ready to try you again next time.
Another great marketing feature is the fact that the disc is actually devoid of the "CD" label and logo. It doesn't meet Sony/et al's specs for what a CD is so they can't call it one! It can only be called a CD-ROM as it has data content. And I bet that isn't mentioned anywhere on the cover.
Next up - shrink wrapped CD's where you have to read the 50 page EULA before opening them I guess :-/
The autorun feature is used to install a driver on your system. This driver detects the "copy protected" disc and only allows access to the protected WMA tracks and not the standard WAVs. (Excuse me if I've got this slightly wrong, but you get the gist
)They did mention that the driver prompts with the standard "do you agree?" type of prompt before installing. If you don't agree, it doesn't install but then ejects the CD, ready to try you again next time.
Another great marketing feature is the fact that the disc is actually devoid of the "CD" label and logo. It doesn't meet Sony/et al's specs for what a CD is so they can't call it one! It can only be called a CD-ROM as it has data content. And I bet that isn't mentioned anywhere on the cover.
Next up - shrink wrapped CD's where you have to read the 50 page EULA before opening them I guess :-/
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Reply #1 Friday, October 10, 2003 11:02 AM