socalgal
08-14-2000, 05:09 AM
http://www.pcworld.com/current_issue/article/0,1212,17227+1+0,00.html
What's Wrong With UCITA?
The Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act would give the force of law to all the fine print in those software licenses that you find in shrink-wrapped packages and on Web sites. Among other things, UCITA would let a vendor:
* Disclaim liability for any damages incurred by software it knew to be buggy.
* Prevent buyers from selling or giving away any computer software that they no longer intend to use.
* Prohibit buyers from using software that came bundled with a PC on other computers, even after erasing it from the original system.
* Notify users of a change in the terms of a license (such as fees for online services) simply by posting an announcement on its Web site.
* Claim UCITA protection for music CDs, so buyers might not be able to sell or give away a used CD or record it in MP3 format for personal use.
There's still plenty of time for most of us--who don't have the patience or expertise to decipher the fine print in software licenses--to just say no to UCITA through our state legislators.
[This message has been edited by socalgal (edited 08-14-2000).]
What's Wrong With UCITA?
The Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act would give the force of law to all the fine print in those software licenses that you find in shrink-wrapped packages and on Web sites. Among other things, UCITA would let a vendor:
* Disclaim liability for any damages incurred by software it knew to be buggy.
* Prevent buyers from selling or giving away any computer software that they no longer intend to use.
* Prohibit buyers from using software that came bundled with a PC on other computers, even after erasing it from the original system.
* Notify users of a change in the terms of a license (such as fees for online services) simply by posting an announcement on its Web site.
* Claim UCITA protection for music CDs, so buyers might not be able to sell or give away a used CD or record it in MP3 format for personal use.
There's still plenty of time for most of us--who don't have the patience or expertise to decipher the fine print in software licenses--to just say no to UCITA through our state legislators.
[This message has been edited by socalgal (edited 08-14-2000).]