I've been avidly following the Sony CD debacle for the past three weeks. Sony's arrogance was absolutely astounding. I don't think they would have exhibited the same behavior under their founder, Akio Morita.
Morita got it from the get go. He never ever would have o.k.'d the use of invasive DRM software. As Time magazine said, Morita's marketing concept was brand-name identification and brand responsibility: that the name would instantly communicate high product quality.
As this USA Today article explains in a very clear manner, Sony's DRM rootkit, (labeled by the computer company Sophos, as ineptware) was poorly written, installed itself as a rootkit, was cloaked, caused damage if the user attempted to remove it, and sent a message back to the Sony mothership each time a song was played. Oh - it also left a huge hole in the consumer's Windows OS that would allow hackers in.
Poor Pooh's laptop got nailed when he tried to remove the rootkit.
Sony's deployment of the rootkit was certainly the antithesis of brand responsibility.
A disaster from beginning to end.
Sony immeasurably compounded the disaster by their completely unrepentent response. Finally, two weeks after a media storm of epic proportions, Sony issued a half baked apology.
The Sony response reminds me of Exxon's response after the Exxon Valdez. Exxon absolutely, aggressively, and completely refused to take any sort of responsibility and was completely without remorse. Corporate arrogance at it worst. In regards to Sony, my bet is that Morita is rolling over in his grave.
Needless to say, this high end prosumer has purchased her last Sony product. No more...
Postscript: I love it: RIAA Defends Sony BMG, CD- Based Content Protection.
9:36:10 PM 
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