A Battle Over Software Licensing
2002-09-16T00:20:35Z
This NY Times article discusses a new update to the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) called UCITA: One of the proposed law's main effects would be to make binding contracts of the consumer licenses that come with shrink-wrapped software — despite the fact the buyer often cannot read the licensing agreement before buying and opening the package.
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One of the proposed law's main effects would be to make binding contracts of the consumer licenses that come with shrink-wrapped software — despite the fact the buyer often cannot read the licensing agreement before buying and opening the package.
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Insurers are opposing the legislation because they say it would make their heavily regulated businesses too vulnerable to the software companies. Under the proposed law, critics contend that software companies could disable a customer's software for perceived violations to the licensing agreement, or suspected piracy — essentially bringing business to a halt.
[...]The original version of the proposed code went so far as to let software companies electronically disable a program that was being used in violation of its license agreement.
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