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Sony has been convicted of misleading the French public and told to pay damages to a consumer watchdog for selling downloadable songs that only run on its own music players, the association said on Friday.
France's Union Federale des Consommateurs (UFC) took Sony's French and British subsidiaries to court in February 2005 over the music download site Sony Connect.
The lawsuit also targets Apple, maker of the popular iPod, whose case is expected to reach the courts later this year.
Music files downloaded on the Sony Connect website are "locked" with what is known as digital rights management (DRM) software, which means they only run on Sony's own players.
The lock-in works both ways, with Sony's digital Walkman's unable to run files purchased on rival sites, such as Apple's iTunes.
UFC said Sony was convicted on December 15 of "deceiving" consumers about the nature of its product and of illicit product bundling, for forcing people who purchase a Sony music player to then buy its downloads.
Sony France was ordered to pay the UFC 10,000 euros (13,000 dollars) in damages, according to the consumer group.
Sony United Kingdom, which operates the Connect website, was also convicted in the case.
The court stopped short of demanding that Sony stop using DRM technology, but ordered Sony France to clearly state on its Net WM range of players that they will not play files purchased on rival commercial websites.
A spokeswoman for Sony France declined to comment on the ruling, saying the company had yet to decide whether to appeal.
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Posted: 2007-01-09 07:31:02
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This is only right and I agree with the outcome. Some phones have DRM installed too.
I am sick of these companies attempting to 'harvest' consumers and forcing them to buy music from nowhere else from themsleves.
People should be able to make a purchase based on pricing and service - not what device you have.
What next? Sony DVD players being only able to play DVDs from Sony Pictures?
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Esato - Phone of the Year 2006. Vote Here![ This Message was edited by: goldenface on 2007-01-09 08:17 ]
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Posted: 2007-01-09 09:16:34
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Front page ...
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Posted: 2007-01-09 09:16:52
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Well that's why the market's going to go bust unless DRM goes. Even Bill Gates (yeah, that guy from DRM lovers Microsoft) says that DRM is pure stupidity.
That's why I go buy CDs.
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Posted: 2007-01-09 12:20:53
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Residentevil Posts: > 500
Good ruling. Kudos to the French. SE needs to take their DRM technology, turn it 90 degrees and shove it where the sun does not shine.
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Posted: 2007-01-09 15:00:46
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Nicely put Residentevil.
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Posted: 2007-01-09 15:08:24
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Quote:
On 2007-01-09 15:08:24, goldenface wrote:
Nicely put Residentevil.
I'll agree to that!
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I'm Gonna Teach My Lawn To Be Emo, So That It Can Cut Itself.
810i
[ This Message was edited by: arien617 on 2007-01-09 17:55 ]
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Posted: 2007-01-09 18:55:30
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