Sony chief says the Sony/BMG XCP press beating was 'unfair'

Man, you gotta hand it to Sony for saying what is on their mind, at least the people they pay to speak for them. At the CES, Sony Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Howard Stringer made some comments eluding that they need to "tread very carefully" when addressing the needs of consumers rights and also the artists rights.

Then, he makes it very clear that Sony BMG is a separate entity and due to that divisions reckless conduct with the XCP and SunnComm MediaMax fiasco, everyone was blaming Sony Electronics! Go figure.

We have to walk the line at Sony between the needs and technology of the customer and the rights of the artist, which we feel fairly strongly about," he said referring to Sony's dual role as both a major consumer electronics and a major music and movie publisher. Stringer also said he was worried about the negative impact the controversy could have had on Sony as a whole because of Sony BMG's actions. Sony BMG is a joint venture with Bertelsmann. "Every headline was about Sony, as if Sony Electronics was behind all of this and we took quite a beating but it was a Sony BMG copyright protection tradition and this was a bad situation. We obviously retreated from that position." "Sony as a company took a bit of a beating for it, which was somewhat unfair," he said.

Maybe people are confused because both "companies" are using the name Sony and since Sony isn't stopping Sony from using their name in that weird deal with BMG, that we just figure it's the same company? This kind of reminds me of when I book a plane ticket with American Airlines or any of the major carriers. If it isn't a direct connection, they dump you off at their hub from the 747 you flew in on and direct you to the gate for the puddle jumper from American Eagle. Then, when the puddle jumpers flight is canceled due to whatever reason and you are stuck in the terminal until further notice, they are real quick to tell you that American Eagle is a separate entity from American Airlines and you have no right to complain to American Airlines. Give me a break.

I'll tell you what's unfair. It's the way honest citizens are being jerked around by giant corporations that place profits ahead of peoples rights and getting away with it by using this type of quasi legal mumbo jumbo. In my eyes Sony Electronics is just as guilty of Sony BMG actions against the public. After all, a parent is held responsible for their childrens actions when they download an MP3 and you sure as heck don't see anyone bat an eye when the RIAA sues the pants off the parents. You can't have it both ways Sony, but nice try.

Source: PC World