[cryptoz]

I was specifically referring to their installation of rootkits on consumer PCs through the Sony BMG CD channel. Also, their attitude about it. From Wikipedia:

> Thomas Hesse, Sony BMG's Global Digital Business President, told reporter Neda Ulaby, "Most people, I think, don't even know what a rootkit is, so why should they care about it?"

[mortenjorck]

The rootkit debacle was six years ago, and was perpetrated by a business unit that is effectively siloed from the one that manufactures consumer electronics.

I'm not saying your apparently indefinite boycott is unjustified; what happened under the Sony name in 2005 happened on the same watch that everything else in all its myriad corporate structures happens. What I am saying is that corporately, Sony is a complex beast, and one business unit's missteps are not necessarily representative of another.

[hrktb]

I think the heart of the problem is that Sony is a complex beast and there is no real control over who does what is which business unit.

This is recipe for corporate debacle in itself, and the bigger the company gets the more morally chalenged people try to climb the ladders, and the more a corporate culture of not screwing the consumer becomes important. A lack of unified values in the business units should in itself justify a "don't trust, avoid if alternatives are viable" attitude.

Now Sony headphones for ex. are really good quality, but you don't need to trust their privacy policies to use them.

[sliverstorm]

Yeah, but it's easier to just hate the whole thing. Similar to McDonalds- the Ronald McDonald Charity is associated with the fast-food giant, so obviously it is deserving of our disgust. [/mockery]

[pavel_lishin]

> the Ronald McDonald Charity is associated with the fast-food giant, so obviously it is deserving of our disgust.

And why not? Just like with tablets, there are other charities you can contribute to.

[CamperBob]

If Sony's not accountable for defects in products shipped under their brand name, then why do they bother to maintain a single global brand? Gee, it's almost like they want the benefits of a unified corporate identity without the drawbacks.

[billybob]

Exactly.

"This tablet made by Sony! You know it's great, because look at all the other great things Sony makes! It's the same Sony!"

"Didn't Sony do that rootkit thing and have lots of security problems?"

"Oh... well we're really a different Sony. Not the same at all!"

[CamperBob]

Sony is a complex beast, and one business unit's missteps are not necessarily representative of another.

Then they should be broken up, with the respective divisions required to maintain their own corporate identities, balance sheets, and whatever goodwill may be left.

Bottom line, the CDs said "Sony", and no amount of spin is going to deflect blame from where it belongs: Sony.

[rayiner]

Cool story bro.

[CamperBob]

But remember, he was fired for that, and was lucky to dodge a lawsuit from his own employer.

[pavel_lishin]

Was he? I can't find any news story about it.

[CamperBob]

Oh, that must be because nothing even remotely like that happened.

Lesson for the customer: Buy stuff from somebody else.