UCITA Debates Trudge Onward

prockcore writes: "CNet is running a story on a debate involving proposed changes to the Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act (UCITA). Changes include altering Opt-in/Opt-out rules, removing limits on public criticism, removing some limits on reverse engineering, among others."

Comments

free speech

[niloroth]

from the article:

"Public Criticism: Free-speech advocates complained that UCITA let software makers prohibit public criticism of their products. A new section says that any provision limiting criticism rights is not enforceable, according to NCCUSL."

Between this and the Patriot act, the new Homeland Security plans, and the limiting of F.O.I.A. during the "War on Terrorism", I am really starting to wonder what the first amendmend really means anymore.

Please please support the ACLU and the EFF. And if you should happen to decide you want to be a Libertarian, that would be good as well.

Re:unfortunately Congress makes the rules

[llywrch]

> The majority of the 50 states do not have significant technology industries and so might be willing to overturn UCITA which
> would benefit computer users.

One item that opened my eyes when I testified against this legislation in 2001 before a committe of the Oregon Legislature, was that the insurance industry was set against it, as well as a number of industries who buy software. And the insurance industry has members in each of the 50 states.

Think of it as big corporation vs. big corporations over profits.

> Unfortunately it is Congress which passed UCITA in the first place.

Err, no: this model legislation, written by a group of lawyers. It is then submitted to each of the 50 states to adopt, modify, or ignore as they see fit. Because it is a ``model", drafted by legal ``experts", most state legislatures are inclined to adopt it unless the local users (both individual & business) raise a stink about it.

Geoff