EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR!

[Craftingmomma]

In searching the bbs, the earliest and only reference I could find to the removal tools was this

http://bbs.thesims2.ea.com/community/bbs/messages.php?&openItemID=item.21,item.104,item.41,item.127,item.23&threadID=ca9cea8b8f6ed84fdc97f42d919e009d&directoryID=21&startRow=1#114b2ce5e95f992a524694bb1c85dc9e

I kinda vaguely remember something about what you are asking about, but if it existed it went the way of many securom posts......pffft vanished.

Edit-checked with some else around back then and she remembers it too, so would have been before the date on that post.

[Nightmare]

I like the new title twice more than the previous, and you guys 

[SoggyFox]

Details?

[Nightmare]

Details?

The 2 added:

Spore Creature Creator spanked.

http://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/california/candce/3:2008cv04733/208019/1/

Girard Libbs has been filled

http://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/california/candce/3:2008cv04917/208302/1/
 JR, I reallly wish you a nice day! Luv ya!

[Requip]

Love it. That last one mentions Sims 2 Bon Voyage specifically. 

[Rata_Chen]

I haven't seen this addressed while lurking, but what do y'all think will happen with all of the existing Securom infested CDs, if the consumers win the suit. Do y'all think that EA would have to replace all infected CDs with "clean" versions, or that they would just re-release all existing EPs/SPs with "clean" versions? Or will a "Now with Moar Spy!" sticker be a feature on all existing Sims products. Has the law firm stated what they wish to do as far as punishment/repayment yet?

I've been pondering this ever since news of the suit broke.

[calalily]

I haven't seen this addressed while lurking, but what do y'all think will happen with all of the existing Securom infested CDs, if the consumers win the suit. Do y'all think that EA would have to replace all infected CDs with "clean" versions, or that they would just re-release all existing EPs/SPs with "clean" versions? Or will a "Now with Moar Spy!" sticker be a feature on all existing Sims products. Has the law firm stated what they wish to do as far as punishment/repayment yet?

I've been pondering this ever since news of the suit broke.

It really depends.  They might do either depending on what the court decides. I don't think that they would re-issue CDs - just make a patch available.

[Paden]

Would a patch be capable of neutering SecuROM, though? For me, I'd rather have a brand new, shiny clean CD that wouldn't contaminate my computer with that shit in any way, shape or form. Then again, I tend to be stubborn at times.

[Devilfish]

I'm a bit of a newb when it comes to SecuROM (and this may have been posted before, in which case feel free to cat me) but I used this: http://www.simprograms.com/securom-removal-tool-added/. Can't judge how much it helped though, but I thought I'd post it anyway.

I just found out Bethesda hopped on the SecuROM bandwagon with Fallout 3. It's silly, I know, evil corp and all that, but that broke my heart.

[SnarkyShark]

I haven't seen this addressed while lurking, but what do y'all think will happen with all of the existing Securom infested CDs, if the consumers win the suit...
I've been pondering this ever since news of the suit broke.

I also think that patching the existing CDs would be the likeliest course of action. It's feasible and would be much cheaper than replacing millions of infected discs. I just wonder whether or not the geniuses at Sony, when developing their special brand of malware, took into account the possibility that someday they would have to remove it.  Considering their history with unstable and unpopular copyright protection programs, I'd really be surprised if they hadn't. But then again...

[Nightmare]

I haven't seen this addressed while lurking, but what do y'all think will happen with all of the existing Securom infested CDs, if the consumers win the suit...
I've been pondering this ever since news of the suit broke.

I also think that patching the existing CDs would be the likeliest course of action. It's feasible and would be much cheaper than replacing millions of infected discs. I just wonder whether or not the geniuses at Sony, when developing their special brand of malware, took into account the possibility that someday they would have to remove it.  Considering their history with unstable and unpopular copyright protection programs, I'd really be surprised if they hadn't. But then again...

That´s a no-no. When XCP was fucked, they retired all infected CD´s so they´ll have to do the same now.... 

Securom?, no thanks 

[Requip]

They might do either depending on what the court decides.

I'm HOPING for a positive ruling but I have a feeling it will fall in line with the FTC ruling against Sony (similar) and this will be the outcome:

The settlement also:

1) requires clear and prominent disclosure on the packaging of Sony BMG’s future CDs of any limits on copying or restrictions on the use of playback devices.

2) bars the company from installing content protection software without obtaining consumers’ authorization

3) bars Sony BMG from using the information on consumers’ listening preferences that it has already gathered through the monitoring technology it installed and bars them from using the information to deliver ads to those consumers

4) requires Sony BMG to reimburse consumers up to $150 to repair damage that resulted directly from consumers’ attempts to remove the software installed without their consent.

So we'll end up with DRM warning labels on Sims games and compensation for computer repairs?  (which is not what I want) 
 

[Paden]

I want SecuROM thrown onto the trash heap of programs and safe replacement disks furnished free of charge for all of us that bought or were given copies that contain SecuROM. It's only fair. Those fucks cost us money and functionality so it's only fair that we kick them in their big fat wallets.

[lemmiwinks]

Lorelei over at MATY pretty much nailed who we are dealing with here.

Rock Band has also been implicated in trying to burn down people's houses.
The advice EAxis support gave him was to try to plug it back in.

Jim's email #3 is made of pwnage and win.

FIRE = BAD
YOU = UNAWARE OF FIRE

That was my fave part, too, though the whole exchange reminded me of having to deal with EA support boobs in the past (I have a laptop with an NVidia card; EA determined that I would be unable to run Sims 2 on my lappy, and, obviously, they were wrong as I ran it before, and figured out later how to run it again).

Letter Exchange A:
You: Hi! Happy EA customer, here. I can haz PROBLEM! Halp?
EA: Canned response that has little or nothing to do with your issue. Insinuation that PROBLEM is due entirely to user error.

Letter Exchange B:
You: No. "PROB-LEM." Your response had little or nothing to do with my issue. Try again.
EA: Canned response that may or may not be relevant to the area in which problem may be occurring. Assertion that EA is there for you, the valued user.

Letter Exchange C:
You: Yeah, hi again. PROBLEM has now lasted three days. I told you what I've tried, and took your canned advice, and the PROBLEM persists. May I speak to a human sometime this week, please? My time is valuable, too, and the  robo-responses are clearly not helping.
EA: Patronizing canned response that attempts to soothe but only infuriates, and again has naught to do with actual issue, though they may have started to acknowledge it is possible their product may have a problem and that it is not a PEBKAC issue after all.

Letter Exchange D:
You: Yeeeeeaaaaah. Hi. Person with PROBLEM here again. I tried your advice, as it may have been relevant in some magical way to the issue I was having and did not smugly assume I use a mouse as a foot pedal and a CD tray as a beverage holder, which is an improvement. Can we just assume I am not a total idiot and actually get a real human being to examine PROBLEM? KTHNXBAI.
EA: (OMG, a human!) Hi, human here. I do not speak English as my native tongue, and have no idea what the problem is, but PROBLEM correspondence has been routed to me. Please start from the beginning and tell me about PROBLEM.

Letter Exchange E:
You: Exasperated but complete synopsis of PROBLEM and reasons why EA advice was EPIC FAIL, and a postscript venting your extreme aggravation and burgeoning ill will towards EA.
EA: (OMG! Still a human!) PROBLEM is Sony's fault, not EA's fault.

Letter Exchange F:
You: Kindly explain why this is Sony's problem. Game worked fine with current configuration prior to new EP. Discuss, please.
EA: Canned response blaming Sony for everything. EA ARE GRAYT, IT ARE NOT EA FAULT, GO AWAY.

Letter Exchange G:
You: Look, EA, you keep telling me it is impossible to run the game on my laptop, when it was running on the laptop six days ago. Then you blame Sony for PROBLEM and I suspect it's your own shitty programming and lack of useful beta-testing at fault. How much do you suck, exactly? Inquiring minds want to know.
EA: Canned response thanking you for being a swell customer.

Letter Exchange H:
You: God damn it, EA. PROBLEM persists. WTF, man?
EA: (Human who does not speak English well.) Go ask Sony.
EA: Canned response thanking you for being a swell customer.
EA: Canned response suggesting you unplug your computer and then plug it back in.
EA: Canned response asking you to check if the power in your house is working.
EA: Canned response resolving a Madden Football issue. You don't own Madden Football.
EA: Canned BUY MOAR KEWL EA STUFF letter. (LOL WUT?)
EA: Four responses closing single Support Desk ticket, as your problem has been determined to have been totally, like, resolved completely by the super helpful bright sparks at EA.

Letter Exchange I:
You: Impolite ALL CAPS suggestion that EA commit self-fornication with its own backside at the earliest opportunity. Exclamation points! Exclamation points!!
EA: Canned response thanking you for being a swell customer.

You: *break something, eat a candy bar, say bad words*

Letter Exchange 1:
You: Dear Sony, I have a PROBLEM and EA says it's your fault.
Sony: EA sucks dong, and it is their fault, but we have had to resolve EA's fuck-up for them, since they keep sending thousands of angry people to us. Try this.

Letter Exchange 2:
You: Sony, I have to give you credit for fixing EA's stupidity. Your solution worked right the first time. Your SecuROM thing is still balls, but your service is far superior. You win a cookie.
Sony: Human sends response thanking you for being a swell customer. It sounds sincere. Go figure.

[neriana]

Whatever, I'd like to see some of the actual letters themselves. But maybe the people who are involved in the lawsuit can't talk about it?