Boycott Sony
November 12, 2005 3:17 PM Subscribe
So, I want to boycott Sony. Is that possible, of have they got their tentacles into too much?
It's easy to never again buy a gadget, DVD or CD with the Sony brand, and to avoid movies they distribute, but do Sony, for example, get royalties on DVD players because they were part of some consortium that owns the patent? Is there any hidden payment to Sony that comes directly from anything without the Sony name on it?
It's easy to never again buy a gadget, DVD or CD with the Sony brand, and to avoid movies they distribute, but do Sony, for example, get royalties on DVD players because they were part of some consortium that owns the patent? Is there any hidden payment to Sony that comes directly from anything without the Sony name on it?
Probably based on the DRM mentioned on the FPP. I tried to spread the word on that on craigslist a year or so ago when I bought a Kings of Leon CD with the MediaMax nonsense on it - called for a boycott. Went over like fart in church.
posted by spicynuts at 3:32 PM on November 12, 2005
posted by spicynuts at 3:32 PM on November 12, 2005
The thing about Sony is that they're so huge, and so sprawling, that their various departments regularly work at cross-purposes. Lots of people in their hardware department would love to loosen up the DRM and such, because it would mean better hardware sales, but the software/"IP" department says no. By all means, quit buying anything published by Sony Music (I know I have) but feel free to continue enjoying your Walkman and your PlayStation 2.
posted by Faint of Butt at 3:38 PM on November 12, 2005
posted by Faint of Butt at 3:38 PM on November 12, 2005
BMG owns Sony and RCA music labels.
elisabeth r; here is the post that answers your question.
posted by hortense at 3:40 PM on November 12, 2005
elisabeth r; here is the post that answers your question.
posted by hortense at 3:40 PM on November 12, 2005
Best answer: From "the DVD FAQ":
"Any company making DVD products must license essential technology patents from the "3C' pool (LG, Philips, Pioneer, Sony: 3.5% per player/drive, minimum $3.50; additional $0.75 for Video CD compatibility; 3.75 cents per disc)"
posted by shoos at 3:42 PM on November 12, 2005
"Any company making DVD products must license essential technology patents from the "3C' pool (LG, Philips, Pioneer, Sony: 3.5% per player/drive, minimum $3.50; additional $0.75 for Video CD compatibility; 3.75 cents per disc)"
posted by shoos at 3:42 PM on November 12, 2005
Faint of Butt is right. I would stop buying Sony music CDs (and any other CDs with DRM). That is also an easy boycott to do.
posted by chunking express at 3:52 PM on November 12, 2005
posted by chunking express at 3:52 PM on November 12, 2005
Forget a personal boycott. Do what this guy did: go to your local library and suggest that it might not be in their patrons' interest to buy and lend CDs that install Trojans on their computers without their knowledge.
I would take it one step further and urge buyers (including libraries) to return these items as defective.
Ask them to spread the word to other libraries. They're doing it.
posted by megatherium at 3:56 PM on November 12, 2005
I would take it one step further and urge buyers (including libraries) to return these items as defective.
Ask them to spread the word to other libraries. They're doing it.
posted by megatherium at 3:56 PM on November 12, 2005
You also might try finding out who supplies them with the raw materials, technology and infrastructure for their company and boycotting them.
posted by Captaintripps at 4:18 PM on November 12, 2005
posted by Captaintripps at 4:18 PM on November 12, 2005
Don't forgot that Sony also make components (chipsets, lasers, mechanisms, etc) for all sorts of electronics.
Good luck with your pointless endeavor.
posted by cillit bang at 4:21 PM on November 12, 2005
Good luck with your pointless endeavor.
posted by cillit bang at 4:21 PM on November 12, 2005
The biggest problem with boycotting Sony is that if you managed to dent their income in a significant way they'd simply claim it was caused by file trading and push for stronger laws which grant them additional and unnecessary rights.
In short, you'd be helping them to get the governments to support their (failing) business model for a little while longer - which probably isn't what you were intending to achieve.
posted by ralawrence at 4:23 PM on November 12, 2005
In short, you'd be helping them to get the governments to support their (failing) business model for a little while longer - which probably isn't what you were intending to achieve.
posted by ralawrence at 4:23 PM on November 12, 2005
Or if you're worried specifically about the DRM stuff, you could always buy Sony stuff (when you wanted to) exclusively through iTunes / Napster / Rhapsody / etc, where at least the DRM is rootkit free.
/works for sonybmg
//has nothing to do with DRM technology
posted by softlord at 4:27 PM on November 12, 2005
/works for sonybmg
//has nothing to do with DRM technology
posted by softlord at 4:27 PM on November 12, 2005
but feel free to continue enjoying your Walkman
What's a Walkman?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 4:27 PM on November 12, 2005
What's a Walkman?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 4:27 PM on November 12, 2005
I'm still waiting for the RIAA and MPAA to go after the software and hardware makers next...
REUTERS - In a landmark case, Sony Corporation (SONY) won a USD $50M lawsuit against Sony Corporation (SONY) for violations of the Digital Millenium Copyright Act.
The lawsuit accused SONY of producing hardward and software, including but not limited to CD-ROM, Hi Fidelity car and home stereo equipment, and DVD players capable of being used to play standard CDs, thus allowing hackers to rob SONY of billions in CD sales by buying their CDs and then playing them in their computers or car stereos.
"Those stupid bastards," said Sony VP of CD-ROM and HiFi Audio equiment John Smith. "What were they thinking?"
"This will teach hardware and software makers that they will be held responsible if their products are being used illegally," said Sony VP of Music and Movies Fred Barber. "This sends a clear message: break your hardware before shipping or we're gonna get you. If you ship a functional product, you're going to pay!"
posted by Mitheral at 4:29 PM on November 12, 2005
REUTERS - In a landmark case, Sony Corporation (SONY) won a USD $50M lawsuit against Sony Corporation (SONY) for violations of the Digital Millenium Copyright Act.
The lawsuit accused SONY of producing hardward and software, including but not limited to CD-ROM, Hi Fidelity car and home stereo equipment, and DVD players capable of being used to play standard CDs, thus allowing hackers to rob SONY of billions in CD sales by buying their CDs and then playing them in their computers or car stereos.
"Those stupid bastards," said Sony VP of CD-ROM and HiFi Audio equiment John Smith. "What were they thinking?"
"This will teach hardware and software makers that they will be held responsible if their products are being used illegally," said Sony VP of Music and Movies Fred Barber. "This sends a clear message: break your hardware before shipping or we're gonna get you. If you ship a functional product, you're going to pay!"
posted by Mitheral at 4:29 PM on November 12, 2005
Best answer: Assuming this is over the DRM thing, you'll also have to boycott Bertelsmann. That's a lot of books you can't buy any more.
posted by Pretty_Generic at 6:36 PM on November 12, 2005
posted by Pretty_Generic at 6:36 PM on November 12, 2005
You can't watch Jeopardy! ever again.
Change your mind yet?
posted by evilcolonel at 8:21 PM on November 12, 2005
Change your mind yet?
posted by evilcolonel at 8:21 PM on November 12, 2005
Response by poster: elisabeth r: As others have mentioned, it's about the "rootkit", also that they appear to favour reducing functionality and convenience after you buy their products (specifically, PSP firmware "upgrades" designed only to break homebrew activities and this new patent where you can only play a DVD on a single player such that if it breaks you have to repurchase your collection)
Faint of Butt: A company is a company, I choose not to pick through the various divisions to work out which ones are evil and which ones are friendly.
shoos: Thank you, I suspected as much.
cillit bang: No need to be rude.
ralawrence: By your logic we should all buy top 50 music just so music companies don't think we're copying their crap.
Pretty_Generic: Thank you.
evilcolonel: Can I still watch the Jeopardy! sketches on SNL?
posted by krisjohn at 4:13 PM on November 13, 2005
Faint of Butt: A company is a company, I choose not to pick through the various divisions to work out which ones are evil and which ones are friendly.
shoos: Thank you, I suspected as much.
cillit bang: No need to be rude.
ralawrence: By your logic we should all buy top 50 music just so music companies don't think we're copying their crap.
Pretty_Generic: Thank you.
evilcolonel: Can I still watch the Jeopardy! sketches on SNL?
posted by krisjohn at 4:13 PM on November 13, 2005
BMG =Bertelsmann Music Group, pamphleteers for the SS back in the early history of this amazingly powerful company.
Sorry Goodwin.
posted by hortense at 8:03 PM on November 13, 2005
Sorry Goodwin.
posted by hortense at 8:03 PM on November 13, 2005
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by elisabeth r at 3:21 PM on November 12, 2005