Sony / BMG Digital Rights Management Class Action
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. Do I need to submit a separate claim form for each CD??
2. Do I need to return my CD back to receive my benefit?
3. What qualifies as valid proof of purchase for MediaMax consumers?
4. Do I need to uninstall or update the XCP or MediaMax software to receive my benefits?
5. How long will it take to receive my benefits?
6. When is the last day I can claim benefits?
7. It's been 6-8 weeks and I still have not received my benefits. What can I do?
XCP Frequently Asked Questions
8. How do I know if my SONY BMG disc contains XCP content protection?
9. Specifically which discs contain the XCP content protection software?
10. How can I tell if I have XCP content protection software on my computer?
11. If my computer contains the XCP content protection software, what should I do?
12. How can I uninstall the XCP content protection software from my computer?
13. Is my computer at risk if I have previously uninstalled the XCP content protection software?
15. Who can I contact for more information?
1. Do I need to submit a separate claim form for each CD?
Yes, you must submit a separate claim form for each CD for which you are claiming benefit.
2. Do I need to return my CD back to receive my benefit?
For XCP protected disks, the answer is yes. In order to obtain your benefits, you either have to send in the original disc at no cost or provide proof that you already have returned the CD to the place of purchase. A list of XCP protected disks is available here.
3. What qualifies as valid proof of purchase for MediaMax consumers?
Valid proof of purchase is one of the following:
- The MediaMax CD itself
- A copy of the receipt from your CD purchase
- The original UPC symbol cut out of the album artwork (must be original; a copy is not valid)
- A copy of a credit card or bank statement reflecting your purchase (do not send originals)
- A copy of a cancelled check reflecting your purchase (do not send originals)
NOTE: YOUR PROOF OF PURCHASE WILL NOT BE RETURNED TO YOU.
4. Do I need to uninstall or update the XCP or MediaMax software to receive my benefits?
If you have installed either the XCP software or the MediaMax 5.0 software on your computer, you MUST either update the software or uninstall that software using the secure tools available from the Sony website in order to be eligible for benefits.
5. How long will it take to receive my benefits?
Once you submit your claim, you should receive codes for your album downloads within six to eight weeks. The replacement CD and the payment should also arrive in six to eight weeks. An email with a link to the MP3 download site should arrive within about a week.
6. When is the last day I can claim benefits?
December 31, 2006 is the last day you can submit a claim form. If you are submitting a hard cop claim form, the claim form must be marked no later than December 31, 2006.
7. It's been 6-8 weeks and I still have not received my benefits. What can I do?
You may write to the Settlement Administrator at:
SONY BMG CD Technologies Settlement Administrator
P.O. Box 1804
Faribault, MN 55021-1804
Or you can email the Settlement Administrator at sonybmg@rustconsulting.com
XCP Frequently Asked Questions
8. How do I know if my SONY BMG disc contains XCP content protection?
Click here for a list of XCP titles.
Alternatively, look at the back of the CD packaging. If you see a black and white table with "Compatible With" on the side, our disc contains some form of contect protection. If the URL at the bottom of the table ends with the letters "XCP" - specifically http://cp.sonybmg.com/xcp - that disc contains the XCP software which is the subject of the FAQ.
Note, there are three exceptions. Three titles - Ricky Martin, "Life"; Peter Gallagher, "7 Days in Memphis"; and a limited number of "Hidden Beach Presents Unwrapped Vol. 4" - were released with a content procetion grid on the back of the CD packaging but XCP content protection software was not actually included on the albums.
9. Specifically which discs contain the XCP content protection software?
Click here for a list of XCP titles.
10. How can I tell if I have XCP content protection software on my computer?
Consumers who wish to check for the presence of XCP content protection software on their computers may download a detection tool from the SONY BMG website.
Note, XCP content protection software is only for PC users (not Apple computers).
11. If my computer contains the XCP content protection software, what should I do?
SONY BMG has provided major software and anti-virus companies with a security update. If you obtain regular security updates from a major anti-virus service, you should receive an update covering the XCP software through that process. You may download the software at http://cp.sonybmg.com/xcp/english/updates.html. This same software provides the option of uninstalling the XCP content protection components from your computer.
12. How can I uninstall the XCP content protection software from my computer?
The software that uninstalls the program can be downloaded at: http://cp.sonybmg.com/xcp/english/updates.html
13. Is my computer at risk if I have previously uninstalled the XCP content protection software?
Because a prior tool provided in November 2005 to uninstall the XCP content protection software from computers may have given rise to separate security risks, we strongly recommend that you either download the update/uninstaller software from here or follow the instructions below.
- Using Windows Explorer, go to WINDOWS\Downloaded Program Files\
- Locate "CodeSupport Control"
- Right click on the file and select Remove from the pop-up window
- The file is now removed from you computer system
- If the file "CodeSupport Control" is not found in the above directory, then your computer is not affected.
14. How can I uninstall the XCP content protection software from my computer using one of the Microsoft tools?
According to Microsoft, Microsoft Windows AntiSpyware (Beta), Windows Safety Live, and the Malicious Software Removal Tool (MSRT) all now have the capability to safely detect and remove the rootkit portion of the XCP software. Windows AntiSpyware (Beta) helps protect customers from spyware and other potentially unwanted software and currently has over 18 million active users. Customers who do not have Windows AntiSpyware (Beta) can download a copy at http://www.microsoft.com/antispyware.
15. Who can I contact for more information?
If you have questions related to the settlement, click here to send an email to the Settlement Administrator and submit your questions.
You may also contact us via email at sonysettlement@girardgibbs.com or call 415-981-4800.