Sure, we all hate Sony -- but what about their partner in crime?

The whole Sony rootkit scandal has blown up far bigger than I expected when I first read about it. I assume a few people would get ticked but that Sony wouldn't face serious repurcussions for exposing people's computers to hackers and malware.

I stand corrected. Sony is facing a public relations nightmare and legal actions while it tries to make amends by offering free CDs and MP3s. And well they should.

But what about First 4 Internet? This is the British company that a year ago bragged it have found a silver bullet for protecting intellectual property, a bullet which Sony promptly shot itself in the foot with. First 4 Internet is so far escaping widespread condemnation. In fact, the company is so far below the radar that its homepage still sports a big promo for XCP, the technology that got everyone into this mess.

"We're not keen to rush," the company's president said a year ago talking about XCP. "We have always focused on a high level of protection, but we've waited until there aren't any playability issues."

Only one thing to say: Durrr...