Where are the Prosecutors? 35
a_greer2005 wonders: "In the past 5 years, we have seen plenty of virus writers in the United States brought to justice both criminally and when possible financially. In the past couple of weeks it has been discovered that Sony has shipped a rootkit, which is worse than the common spyware or virus, so I ask you, where are the law suits? Is anyone planning criminal/civil action at all? Does Sony frighten the entire legal industry? If nothing is done about this, will we have ANY right to tell a company 'NO' in the future when it comes to DRM worms -- Is this but a sample of things to come?" Update: 11/12 10:20 PM EDT by C :Whoops! Missed the fact that we've already reported on the fact that California has already started a class action suit against Sony (thanks to the posters that caught this). New York may soon follow. However that is only 2 states out of 50. Is there a possibility of more to follow?
They've got protection... (Score:4, Insightful)
Not a rootkit (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:The thing is... (Score:3, Insightful)
It is just a dirty deal.
Re:The thing is... (Score:2, Insightful)
If it only FUCKS over the little guy, then fuck it - it's okay.
However, if it fucks over a big fish - then shit - we have to prosecute.
There's something distinctly wrong with that, and I really hope that that was not your intent.
Re:Not a rootkit (Score:4, Insightful)
A "virus" or "trojan" or "worm" is the software that performs the compromise. A "rootkit" allows the V/T/W writer to produce their creation with less effort.
Sony is directly responsible for reducing system security on PCs that have been infected with their rootkits. That is actionable, but likely nobody will go to jail.
Re:SONY rootkit violates LPGL (Score:4, Insightful)
Just like you willingly ran an executable containing a virus? I don't buy it. Basically that argument comes down to a rootkit being okay for Sony because they are the good guys and not okay for anyone else because they are criminals/terrorists/anarchists.