Sony added anti-piracy software which contained software known as a "rootkit". Hackers can use rootkits to take over operating systems. Sony's version did no such thing, but it did hide the anti-piracy software which prevents cloning of their CD's.

Sony's big mistake is that the did not disclose their CD's had this rootkit.

Even though Sony was really stupid, I think the bigger problem still lies in the issue of piracy. People think nothing of making copies of CD's and giving them to friends.   People download songs illegally and the artists do not get paid.    While it may not seem that some of the big name artists are going to miss the $$$, it does trickle down to the smaller name artists who are trying to latch on.

The music industry is a mess.