Hi folks.

I've not posted before but I'm a long-time satriani fan, my first concert seing the 'Flying in a Blue Dream' tour at Leeds, UK (Colosseum?) and pretty much all the tours since over here.

I was just wondering if there had been any discussion about the current situation with Sony/BMG using rootkit technology for audio CD copy protection? Or about copy protection in particular, for that matter.

Has Joe said anything on the subject? I realise that artists sometimes have no control on how their material is distributed, but there seems to be a lot of ill will being generated towards the bands whose material is released this way.

For those who haven't seen the details of the current fiasco, have a look here :

here and more

it's a bit technical, but well worth a read.

As for myself, I have made the conscious decision to vote with my money and not to buy any copy protected goods. I will also be avoiding Sony hardware. I just hope that future Satriani releases are not affected as I will miss his virtuouso performances.

-- Andrew

Zinc Master That's really miserable news. :(

Sony has just lost Joe a sale. These companies really have no comprehension what they are doing. They complain about piracy and then drive their actual customers away with stupid things like this.

TBH I didn't expect much of Sony anyway, as they have a long history of pissing off their customers. You just have to look at the Everquest and Star Wars Galaxy online game communities problems.