Sony to Offer Exchanges of Rootkit CDs

Facing further pressure from unhappy consumers and now artists who are upset that their music has been tarnished by the invasive copy-protection added to certain CDs, Sony BMG now says it will pull the albums off store shelves entirely. The record label is also offering to exchange the CDs for non-DRM versions.

The news follows an announcement last week in which Sony said it would suspend the manufacture of CDs with the software rootkit, known as XCP. "Sony BMG deeply regrets any inconvenience to our customers and remains committed to providing an enjoyable and safe music experience," the company said in a follow-up statement.