November 16, 2005
Re: Request for Immediate Product Removal
Dear SONY BMG Music Entertainment Account:
You may be aware of the recent attention given to the XCP content protection software included on some SONY BMG CDs. This software was provided to us by a third-party vendor, First4Internet. We are writing to provide you with information about the XCP technology. In addition, we are asking for your cooperation in removing these CDs from your inventory and supplying consumers with new copies of the same titles without the software.
Security concerns have been raised regarding the use of CDs containing this XCP software. It is important to note that the issues regarding these discs apply only when the CDs are played on computers, not on conventional, non-computer-based CD and/or DVD players. For consumers who wish to play these CDs on their computers, we have issued a software update that we believe addresses the security concerns. Shortly, we will provide a revised and secure uninstall procedure for the XCP software.
Attached to this letter is a list of the titles containing the XCP software. Please note that this issue does not affect any titles not on the list which may have employed a different content protection technology.
We want you to know of the steps we are taking, and ask for your cooperation in supporting them:
1. Please immediately remove from your store shelves and warehouses the titles on the attached list and return those titles to us. We will, of course, give you credit at the price paid for returned merchandise. We are currently manufacturing replacement titles. Your account representative can give you instructions on how to ship the product to us at no cost to you.
2. We are commencing a direct consumer exchange program whereby consumers may return product containing the XCP software for a replacement version of that title without the software. The details of this program, as well as an FAQ and other information, will be posted shortly on:
http://cp.sonybmg.com/xcp. At this website, we will also make available a printable fact sheet that you may provide to customers who have questions about this situation. A copy of the fact sheet will also be available on SONY BMG Central.
3. In addition to alerting your customers to the direct exchange program, if they ask to exchange titles at your retail outlet(s), we encourage you to fulfill their request using the new CDs made available to you. We will credit you for opened and unopened XCP content-protected compact discs returned to us.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. We strongly believe these steps are beneficial in ensuring our and your continued goodwill with consumers and artists. SONY BMG remains committed to the goal of producing a safe and enjoyable music experience.
For questions regarding this program, please contact your account representative.
Sincerely,
SONY BMG Sales Enterprise
CD’s Containing XCP Content
Protection Technology
Note: We will shortly be releasing new versions of these titles without the XCP software. You therefore need to check this list for both the name of the album and the item number (which can be found on the spine of the CD). If the item number is not listed below, your CD does not contain XCP content protection.
ARTIST
ALBUM
ITEM NUMBER(S)
1.
A Static Lullaby
Faso Latido
CK92772
2.
Acceptance
Phantoms
CK89016
3.
Amerie
Touch
CK90763
4.
Art Blakey
Drum Suit
CK93637
5.
The Bad Plus
Suspicious Activity?
CK94740
6.
Bette Midler
Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook
CK95107 CK74815
7.
Billy Holiday
The Great American Songbook
CK94294
8.
Bob Brookmeyer
Bob Brookmeyer & Friends
CK94292
9.
Buddy Jewell
Times Like These
CK92873
10.
Burt Bacharach
At This Time
CK97734
11.
Celine Dion
On Ne Change Pas
E2K97736
12.
Chayanne
Cautivo
LAK96819 LAK96818 LAK95886
13.
Chris Botti
To Love Again
CK94823
14.
The Coral
The Invisible Invasion
CK94747
15.
Cyndi Lauper
The Body Acoustic
EK94569
16.
The Dead 60's
The Dead 60's
EK94453
17.
Deniece Williams
This Is Niecy
CK93814
18.
Dextor Gordon
Manhattan Symphonie
CK93581
19.
Dion
The Essential Dion
CK92670
20.
Earl Scruggs
I Saw The Light With Some Help From My Friends
CK92793
21.
Elkland
Golden
CK92036
22.
Emma Roberts
Unfabulous And More: Emma Roberts
CK93950 CK97684
23.
Flatt & Scruggs
Foggy Mountain Jamboree
CK92801
24.
Frank Sinatra
The Great American Songbook
CK94291
25.
G3
Live In Tokyo
E2K97685
26.
George Jones
My Very Special Guests
E2K92562
27.
Gerry Mulligan
Jeru
CK65498
28.
Horace Silver
Silver's Blue
CK93856
29.
Jane Monheit
The Season
EK97721
30.
Jon Randall
Walking Among The Living
EK92083
31.
Life Of Agony
Broken Valley
EK93515
32.
Louis Armstrong
The Great American Songbook
CK94295
33.
Mary Mary
Mary Mary
CK94812 CK92948
34.
Montgomery Gentry
Something To Be Proud Of: The Best of 1999-2005
CK75324 CK94982
35.
Natasha Bedingfield
Unwritten
EK93988
36.
Neil Diamond
12 Songs
CK94776 CK97811
37.
Nivea
Complicated
82876671562
38.
Our Lady Peace
Healthy In Paranoid Times
CK94777
39.
Patty Loveless
Dreamin' My Dreams
EK94481
40.
Pete Seeger
The Essential Pete Seeger
CK92835
41.
Ray Charles
Friendship
CK94564
42.
Rosanne Cash
Interiors
CK93655
43.
Rosanne Cash
King's Record Shop
CK86994
44.
Rosanne Cash
Seven Year Ache
CK86997
45.
Shel Silverstein
The Best Of Shel Silverstein
CK94722
46.
Shelly Fairchild
Ride
CK90355
47.
Susie Suh
Susie Suh
EK92443
48.
Switchfoot
Nothing Is Sound
CK96534 CK96437 CK94581
49.
Teena Marie
Robbery
EK93817
50.
Trey Anastacio
Shine
CK96428
51.
Van Zant
Get Right With The Man
CK93500
52.
Vivian Green
Vivian
CK90761
Note: Two titles, Ricky Martin’s "Life" and Peter Gallagher’s "7 Days in Memphis" were released with a content protection grid on the back of the CD packaging but XCP content protection software was not actually included on the albums.