Re: INFO/NYT: Controversial Software Protection Law Passed in Virginia

On Tue, 14 Mar 2000, David P. Dillard <jwne[_at_]astro.ocis.temple.edu> wrote:
>
> REGARDING A NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE WITH LINK AND EXCERPT BELOW:
>
> The state of Virginia has passed legislation entitled the Uniform
> Computer Information Transaction Act (UCITA). This legislation protects
> copyright of software at the cost of a number of traditional consumer
> rights and is highly controversial, being lobbyed against by groups
> like the American Library Association. Organizational proponents of
> the legislation are pushing for its passage in the other states.

I am not an attorney, but I do buy a lot of software. I have also read through the entire text of the Virginia version of UCITA. If you do that yourself, I am sure you'll agree that the comments that follow are not exaggerated.

This law is an insidious attempt by software manufacturers to absolve themselves of ANY responsibility for the quality of their products, and to deny even the few rights that users have now. It's a naked power grab, and is symptomatic of software companies' attitudes toward their (paying) customers shifting from simple neglect to outright contempt.

As I see it, the bottom line is that the software companies want to legally be able to ship software with an expiration date, thereby universally turning the purchase of software into the rental of software.

That's what they're really after, and we are doomed if we do not fight.

Colin Goff
Riley comunications
North Branford, CT
<colgoff[_at_]worldnet.att.net> Received on Wed Mar 15 2000 - 13:10:57 GMT