Unbelievable. That's like GM saying we have the right to disable your car if we think you haven't paid what we think you should be paying for it, even though you paid showroom price.
Well, then there's the terms of the EULA, which of course state that you are in violation of the law if you alter or remove that software, nevermind that it itself alters Windows in violation of Microsoft's...oh, never mind. This is a cluster-you-know-what in so many ways that it's staggeringly unbelievable that a major corporation would let this out. As I've said elsewhere in the many threads on this topic, this has way more to do with Sony vs. Apple than it does with thwarting people who want to make illegal copies. Putting this crap on jazz CDs recorded decades ago? I mean, come on. Yeah, that Gerry Mulligan CD & the Dexter Gordon session, they were both going to suffer poor sales due to all the illegal copies & file-sharing.
Protecting intellectual property is very important. This has set it back in a huge way. It's flat-out disgusting, the level of irresponsibility. But it does rise to the level of criminal offense, from what I can see.
Here's another one, though slightly less irrational...I hate to single these people out, as they may not be as familiar with this as others, but it's amazing that anyone would side with Sony in any way on this. Especially since it's extremely unlikely that the copy protection has as much to do with illegal copies & file-sharing as it does with the ongoing war with Apple.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1520354/posts#3
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1520354/posts#24