Sony is Toast

I have 3 Sony video cameras, 2 Sony TVs, a Sony surround sound system and a "boom box". Those are just the Sony products I can think of off the top of my head that are still in current use.

They're the last Sony products I'll purchase - ever.

Why you might ask. Let me tell you.

Sony has in recent time abused their power as a manufacturer, music publisher, purveyor of retail product.

I can almost forgive their (in)famous "root kit" where they decided that anyone trying to play one of their music CDs on a computer should have a Sony-specific piece of software installed - forever - intrusively - without notice. Almost. Strike One.

Sony has created a lot of interesting and leading-edge products and demonstration items, including the Sony Aibo "robot" that people could purchase and watch do its pre-programmed gyrations. Of course the potential for making this dog do much more struck the hobbiests and some of them re-programmed it to do even more.

Sony sued them for violating the (U.S.) DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act)

Strike two.

Most recently, Sony decided that the "other operating system" function on their PS3 game console would be removed by an update; an update that was effectively required if you wanted to continue to play anything of substance on your PS3. 

A very bright young man with the handle "GeoHot" (George Hotz) figured out how to re-enable this (previously advertised by Sony) feature on his PS3 and let some people know how. Now Sony is suing him for this. GeoHot owns his PS3. GeoHot wanted the "other operating system" facility. Sony took it away.

Strike three - they're out.

Imagine purchasing a car. You drive it on public roads because the advertising said you could, but... the manufacturer decided a year later that you should no longer be able to drive it on public roads but should only drive it on roads the manufacturer owned and only drive it when you've filled it up at the original manufacturer's gas pump.

Would you put up with this?

I sure wouldn't, and I won't; and I won't continue to support (by purchasing from them) any company that is arogant enough to think that I should.

Here's hoping you won't either.

If enough people make this decision then Sony is toast - and maybe the next arrogant company will think twice about trying to circumvent the first sale doctrine. What's mine is mine - I can use it for what it is designed for, sell it, lend it, modify it, circumvent it, or use it as a hammer; my choice, not the manufacturer's - ever.

richard

Tag: sony aibo rootkit jailbreak geohotz ps3