Re: VA "drop dead" law

Glenn Tenney on software with time bombs:
>
> Since usually no title changes hands, and there is no physical thing
> being repossessed, your analogy is a bit off. Considering how some
> software people have abused such self-destruct schemes, a closer analogy
> would be a car leasor placing a bomb in the car that would go off if you
> didn't pay on time.

I think this analogy shows why a law isn't needed: the market would weed out literal car bombs in no time at all (in fact, no car rental agency does such a thing at least because it would not be good business). The market will weed out software bombs as well, if they are not cost-effective. If they ARE costeffective  (and hence will not "naturally" be weeded out), then there is no reason to have a law prohibiting them.

            --Trotter Hardy

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