Sony DRM for the Mac

November 10th, 2005 at 2:00 PM - News by Jeff Gamet

In certain cases, Sony BMG distributed music CDs will install digital rights management (DRM) software on Macs, according to a MacInTouch reader. The music CDs install two kernel extensions called PhoenixNub1.kext and PhoenixNub12.kext.

Some CDs distributed by Sony BMG contain an extra partition for enhanced content, along with an application named "Start.app." Running the application shows an end user license agreement (EULA), and then prompts you for your administrator user name and password. After entering your administrator information, Start.app installs the kernel extensions, then quits.

Buried in the EULA is a reference that software will be installed.

The two kernel extensions were developed by SunnComm, a DRM technology company that was recently the butt of a joke article on p2p.net. The DRM technology installed on Windows systems is made by XCP.

Unlike the Windows DRM software, the Mac OS X version is installed only when a user accesses the enhanced content on a CD. TMO previously covered Sony BMGis troubles with DRM technology on November 10.

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