Sony BMG Music to Pay Thousands to Consumers

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

By Ben Markus and KPBS Public Broadcasting

California and Texas settled a multi-million dollar lawsuit on Tuesday with Sony BMG music entertainment. The lawsuit involved a copy-protection program Sony secretly bundled with its music CD’s. Ben Markus reports.

Many user’s computers crashed when they tried to uninstall the software. Tom Dressler with the California Attorney General’s office says the case was about more than restitution for affected consumers.

Dressler: The case really is about the requirement under California law that businesses be completely honest, that they not hide the ball from consumers, and that they have no secrets with consumers when they’re doing business with ‘em.

As part of the settlement, Sony must pay $750,000 to both California and Texas.  Consumers have 180 days to file a claim on Sony’s website. Refunds will range between $25 and $175. It’s estimated that nearly half a million Californians bought CD’s with the malicious software.

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