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Hype Vaporware, Go To Jail?
Tim Dierks writes "The New York Times (registration required) has an article describing a federal case against executives in Enron's broadband data division, based upon the charge that Enron claimed that a software platform was more complete and more functional than it actually was. It seems to be that if this case holds up, most of the software industry is guilty. Would the world be better off or not if it was illegal to overpromote the functionality or features of software?"
Its funny to make jokes about Duke Nukem Forever, but how could this affect linux? Distributions such as Lindows and Mandrake target the desktop and claim that linux is a viable desktop OS. Could they too be sued by disgruntled customers?
Imagine trying to explain subtle technical and marketing issues to a judge and jury, issues that may be difficult enough for those of us in the industry to understand. Is this REALLY what is promised or not? Is it true under one situation but not another?
I expect a few big-time decievers MIGHT get in trouble over this, but I'd expect most cases like this to degenerate into such arcana that any results would be meaningless since we wouldn't be sure those sitting in judgement understood the issues, and people would manipulate that lack of knowledge.
My 2 cents.
"The Sage treasures Unity and measures all things by it" - Lao Tzu
It would be a MUCH better world for lawyers.
And if you worked for me...you would no longer. It's not "funny," it's pathetic.
-- @rjamestaylor on Ello