And talking of problems over at SonyBMG, there's still much media comment being generated over the whole 'rootkit' debacle. As you'll remember, this was the copy-protection software used on over 50 SonyBMG releases in the US which, it turned out, made users' computers more susceptible to virus attack.
Media attention in the last week has not so much centered on the internal and external PR war SonyBMG has had to fight since the flaws in its anti-piracy software were revealed, nor on the litigation it now faces for having used it in the first place. Rather commentators are wondering on what the whole incident means for the future of copy-protection on CDs in general.
Despite EMI telling the world it will proceed with its copy-protection software plans in 2006, despite the rootkit debacle, some insiders now say the industry will once again shoot itself in the foot if it chooses to do so. The consensus is that consumers will become increasingly reluctant to use CDs in their PCs if there is any sign of copy protection software being involved (I for one won't be able to review the new Back To Mine compilation, because to do so on my PC involves installing some anti-piracy technology).
Which means two things. Firstly, music fans may be tempted to go to illegitimate sources for their music, knowing that if they buy the CD they won't be able to play it on their computer. Secondly, the record labels will once again come across as sinister conglomerates out to screw the customer. Which isn't a persona you want when Apple boss and friend-of-the-common-man Steve Jobs is getting ready to stage a PR offensive to stop the music industry from forcing him to drop the one-low-price-fits-all iTunes model.