Dear SONY BMG Music Entertainment Account:
You may be aware of the recent attention given to the XCP content protection software included on some SONY BMG CDs. This software was provided to us by a third-party vendor, First4Internet. We are writing to provide you with information about the XCP technology. In addition, we are asking for your cooperation in removing these CDs from your inventory and supplying consumers with new copies of the same titles without the software.
Security concerns have been raised regarding the use of CDs containing this XCP software. It is important to note that the issues regarding these discs apply only when the CDs are played on computers, not on conventional, non-computer-based CD and/or DVD players. For consumers who wish to play these CDs on their computers, we have issued a software update that we believe addresses the security concerns. Shortly, we will provide a revised and secure uninstall procedure for the XCP software.
Attached to this letter is a list of the titles containing the XCP software. Please note that this issue does not affect any titles not on the list which may have employed a different content protection technology.
We want you to know of the steps we are taking, and ask for your cooperation in supporting them:
1. Please immediately remove from your store shelves and warehouses the titles on the attached list and return those titles to us. We will, of course, give you credit at the price paid for returned merchandise. We are currently manufacturing replacement titles. Your account representative can give you instructions on how to ship the product to us at no cost to you.
2. We are commencing a direct consumer exchange program whereby consumers may return product containing the XCP software for a replacement version of that title without the software. The details of this program, as well as an FAQ and other information, will be posted shortly on: http://cp.sonybmg.com/xcp. At this website, we will also make available a printable fact sheet that you may provide to customers who have questions about this situation. A copy of the fact sheet will also be available on SONY BMG Central.
3. In addition to alerting your customers to the direct exchange program, if they ask to exchange titles at your retail outlet(s), we encourage you to fulfill their request using the new CDs made available to you. We will credit you for opened and unopened XCP content-protected compact discs returned to us.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. We strongly believe these steps are beneficial in ensuring our and your continued goodwill with consumers and artists. SONY BMG remains committed to the goal of producing a safe and enjoyable music experience.
For questions regarding this program, please contact your account representative.
Sincerely,
SonyBMG Sales Enterprise
CDs infected with the dodgy software as follows:
A Static Lullaby - Faso Latido
Acceptance - Phantoms
Amerie - Touch
Art Blakey - Drum Suit
The Bad Plus - Suspicious Activity?
Bette Midler - Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook
Billy Holiday - The Great American Songbook
Bob Brookmeyer - Bob Brookmeyer & Friends
Buddy Jewell - Times Like These
Burt Bacharach - At This Time
Celine Dion - On Ne Change Pas
Chayanne - Cautivo
Chris Botti - To Love Again
The Coral - The Invisible Invasion
Cyndi Lauper - The Body Acoustic
The Dead 60's - The Dead 60's
Deniece Williams - This Is Niecy
Dextor Gordon - Manhattan Symphonie
Dion - The Essential Dion
Earl Scruggs - I Saw The Light With Some Help From My Friends
Elkland - Golden
Emma Roberts - Unfabulous And More: Emma Roberts
Flatt & Scruggs - Foggy Mountain Jamboree
Frank Sinatra - The Great American Songbook
G3 - Live In Tokyo
George Jones - My Very Special Guests
Gerry Mulligan - Jeru
Horace Silver - Silver's Blue
Jane Monheit - The Season
Jon Randall - Walking Among The Living
Life Of Agony - Broken Valley
Louis Armstrong - The Great American Songbook
Mary Mary - Mary Mary
Montgomery Gentry - Something To Be Proud Of: The Best of 1999-2005
Natasha Bedingfield - Unwritten
Neil Diamond - 12 Songs
Nivea - Complicated
Our Lady Peace - Healthy In Paranoid Times
Patty Loveless - Dreamin' My Dreams
Pete Seeger - The Essential Pete Seeger
Ray Charles - Friendship
Rosanne Cash - Interiors
Rosanne Cash - King's Record Shop
Rosanne Cash - Seven Year Ache
Shel Silverstein - The Best Of Shel Silverstein
Shelly Fairchild - Ride
Susie Suh - Susie Suh
Switchfoot - Nothing Is Sound
Teena Marie - Robbery
Trey Anastacio - Shine
Van Zant - Get Right With The Man