Sony BMG has offered to settle the class action lawsuit recently filed over its use of overly draconian copy protection on its music CDs. The company has proposed two options: they can receive a payment of US$7.50 per infected CD they purchased and receive a free album download; or they can receive three free album downloads.

However, while it can limit the list of albums available as free downloads, Sony won't be able to force consumers to use its online store. The company will be required to "use commercially reasonable efforts to offer Apple Computer, Inc.'s popular iTunes as one of the download services available to Settlement Class Members," according to the settlement. That quote comes from an article published by reporter Ken "Caesar" Fisher on the Ars Technica Web site.

Sony's digital rights management (DRM) software, often referred to as a "rootkit," would implant itself so deep in the Windows operating system that it created a security threat. The company has promised to stop using the software and will recall all the CDs that contain it and replace them with new, DRM-free versions. Sony must also provide a tool that will safely remove the rootkit.

Mr. Fisher noted that Sony's proposed settlement has not been approved by the court yet. Proof of purchase -- or return, if consumers took the infected discs back -- will be required.