sony keeps digging

[solarbird]

In case you haven't heard about this patent yet, Sony has decided that used software is the same as counterfeit/pirated software, and has patented a system that would let them make their game-system games permanently bonded to one and only one machine ever, specifically to destroy the used-games market. It wouldn't let you take a copy of your game over to your friend's house to play it, either, because apparently, Sony hates and loathes you, its customers. gamera_spinning has the brutal and gory details here. Note that this hasn't been implemented yet - just a complete method to implement it has been patented. Watch for it coming to a game system near you. :-p

And there's more! The "code left behind" after you run Sony's so-called "removal" programme includes an ActiveX control which is marked safe for scripting. One of the things the code chunk does is download executable code and run it. Without any user intervention. Without checking where the code is coming from. Details here: http://blogs.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2005/11/sony_uninstall_.html

Comments

[solarbird]

I'm pretty sure at this point that the PS4 will include a mode that cuts the disc into a ninja star and ejects it at you to sever a major artery whenever it decides you've violated your TOS.