Sony BMG Music Entertainment has recalled its compact discs that contain copy protection software with the potential to expose computers to viruses and other security risks, but despite the recall, some of the CDs are still being sold.
Massachusetts Attorney General Tom Reilly warns many of the discs are still being sold to unsuspecting consumers in Boston.
Earlier this month, Sony BMG asked retailers to stop selling 52 music titles containing extended copyright protection (XCP) technology and to return the CDs to the company. Some of these CDs, however, are still being sold in Boston stores, Reilly said.
There is a potential security risk to consumers when consumers play these CDs on any computer with a Windows operating system. For this reason, Reilly said consumers are advised not to purchase the affected CDs, and not to play them on their computers.
Consumers can identify recalled CDs by looking at the table on the back of the CD case bearing the words "Compatible With:" on the side. If the URL at the bottom of the table contains the letters XCP, the CD is among those recalled by Sony.
Meanwhile, Reilly is conducting an investigation of Sony BMG related to the privacy and consumer protection issues raised by the copy protection software that Sony BMG used on the CDs.
A list of the 52 recalled CD titles is available at cp.sonybmg.com/xcp/english/titles.html.
Sony BMG has announced an exchange program for consumers who have already purchased CDs containing the XCP software. Under the terms of the program, affected consumers will be able to receive replacement or non-copy protected CDs.
