Those that have been following this stuff might find
this page an interesting read.
Apparently, the First4Internet code has been discovered to contain LGPL'ed code from both LAME and the id3lib library, without complying with the requirements of the Limited GPL copyright license that both of those packages are distributed under. So, it appears that this
"copy protection" software (as laughable as that might be) actually
violates copyright law itself!
Apparently, Sony feels that their copyrights are more important than everyone else's.
Also, gamer, to answer your question, IANAL, but "officially" the DMCA should make it illegal to possess or sell a device who's primary purpose is to circumvent "copyright protection mechanisms". However, most of these provisions haven't been tested fully in the courts (and, of course, the DMCA only applies in the USA).
In fact, with this particular DRM package, depending on how widely you interpret the DMCA's wording, TweakUI (which can disable the Autoplay "feature" and defeat the DRM), any Linux computer, and any MacOS computer could all be considered "circumvention devices". In truth, it is exceedingly unlikely that anyone would be actually held liable for circumventing this particular batch of DRM.
This law (and those like it being enacted all across the world currently) is utterly obscene. It says essentially, even if what you intend to do with the tool is legal (and even if what you actually do is legal), the mere possession of the tool itself is illegal. And why? Because the Entertainment industry needs these draconian measures to protect itself from sophisticated Pirates. They tell us this DRM is their solution, for protection against the mean, nasty pirates. (Now, do any of us think the Pirates might use any circumvention device as exotic or sophisticated as a Mac? No, of course not.)
DRM is not and has never been about preventing piracy. It's mostly about controlling the distribution chain. (The other side benefit the RIAA (and MPAA and their ilk) are also lusting after is the ability to charge for time and place shifting.) The Record companies exist because when "recording" was invented, the equipment was expensive, so you needed them. Then, you could do the recording yourself, but how were you going to distribute your music world-wide... You need the Recording Company. But now there is P2P and the Internet, and people have high-speed network connections. The Recording companies are deathly afraid that their "employees" (the artists) will realize that they don't need them anymore. Why get a piddly royalty when you can make the whole shebang?