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socalgal
04-10-2000, 06:50 PM
There's still time... please read the entire article (not long) from this link

http://www.computerworld.com/home/print.nsf/all/000410D33A


Partial quote:

The legislation creates a legal framework that, among other things, does the following:


Shifts the balance of existing contract law in favor of vendors when they contract with businesses and consumers.

Permits vendors to shut down mission-critical software without court approval and without incurring liability for the resulting harm.

Allows vendors to prohibit the transfer of software from one company to another, even during a merger or acquisition, and limits consumers' access to information through libraries.

Allows vendors to avoid liability for damage caused by defects known to the vendor -- and undisclosed to the licensee -- at the time the software was acquired.

Allows vendors to include such unreasonable terms in agreements as prohibiting public criticism of their products.

If you think that negotiating with software vendors is already difficult and expensive, the outcome of UCITA may make things much worse. If you want an equitable contract law, let your state legislators know of your concerns and urge that the act not be adopted in its present form.

UncaDanno
04-11-2000, 05:23 AM
I've been reading about this for a few months. I recall reading in one article about one of the license agreements put before the Va house as an example. Forgot how many thousand words long it was, but it put all the onus on the buyer and exonerated the vendor from everything. Then, at the bottom it said to the effect that by RECEIVING the software, the user agrees to be bound by the agreement IN PERPETUITY!

And it passed!

KillerBug
04-11-2000, 05:40 AM
Can't critisize? Can anyone say first amendment?

KillerBug
04-11-2000, 06:02 AM
I just emailed the Florida governer and Lt. Governer, I can only hope that all of you can do the same!