The Pure Software Act of 2006

lurker412 writes "The MIT Technology Review features a proposal by Simson Garfinkel to provide honest labels on software in the same way that the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 forced manufacturers of foods and drugs to divulge the contents of their products. The proposal targets adware, spyware and other unsavory practices. It suggests that by requiring software manufacturers to include clear icons for each nasty behavior--rather than hide the disclosures in seldom read or understood click-through SLAs--end users will be better protected. Garfinkel specifically lists eight types of sneaky behavior, but the list is not meant to be exhaustive."

Comments

The sound of silence

[pudding7]

Anyone see the name as "Simon and Garfunkle"?

I'll go back to work now...

Re:The sound of silence

[Prince Vegeta SSJ4]

Hello Clippy, my old friend,

I've come to talk with you again,

Because a exploit softly creeping,

Left its worms while I was sleeping,

And the vision that was planted in my brain

Still remains

Within the sound of silence.

Re:The sound of silence

[phpm0nkey]

The dude even looks like Simon & Garfunkel!

Re:The sound of silence

[brandond1976]

In that case I think I'll change my name to one of these:
Hercules Rockefeller
Rembrandt Q. Einstein
Handsome B. Wonderful
Max Power

Which one would be best? Should I post an AskSlashdot?

A Multi Talented Fellow

[ralf1]

First he writes "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" and now this!!

Parsley sage rosemary and thyme...

[Capt'n Hector]

From the guys who divulged KFC's secred recipite. Sorry, I couldn't resist...

Can there be a label...

[Anonymous Coward]

to denote buggy code?

Re:Can there be a label...

[dspfreak]

to denote buggy code?

Yeah, it has red, blue, green, and yellow wavy squares in a 2x2 pattern with a black border.

New label on Windows XP retail box

[morelife]

to provide honest labels on software in the same way that the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 forced manufacturers of foods and drugs to divulge the contents of their products.


By opening or removing the seal to this package you agree to abide by the terms explained in the enclosed EULA. By the way, this product contains software code, which, by installing on your computer, could render you utterly defenseless from intrusion, viruses, worms, trojans, popup advertising, loss of data, loss of privacy, NOT TO MENTION putting you on an endless treadmill of planned obsolescence, making you a pawn in the global theater of consumer rape by corporations. Enjoy!! Oh, yeah, we don't guarantee that the software works, and, no refunds.

Re:New label on Windows XP retail box

[Gumshoe]

By opening or removing the seal to this package you agree to abide by the terms explained in the enclosed EULA.

I didn't read any further than this. I immediately clicked the "Reply to This" link instead.

Re:The 'Evil' Bit

[Allen Zadr]

Wow, every single Microsoft application I've seen qualifies under at least ONE of these icons:

Hook, Modify, Remote Control, Self-Updates and even Stuck.

Re:The 'Evil' Bit

[plover]

Hahahaha -- I read your comment and saw the last icon as "Sucks". It worked for me...

Nutrition Facts

[ets960]

Looks like this software contains 36% of my daily value of spam, but it does contain 200% of my daily requirements for internet messaging.

Packaging Problems

[djblair]

With all of these icons, will there even be ROOM for the logo on the Windows box?

Ingredients:

[mnemotronic]

This software product may contain the following:
logic or programmatic errors; algorithm errors; design errors; unused, invalid, or obsolete code; stolen code; improper, incorrect, or misleading documentation. You, the purchaser or user of this software product, are entirely responsible for any flaws, errors, omissions, or other acts committed by the designers, creators, and implementors of this product during the design, creation, or implementation of said product.

Use of this product may enable third parties to surreptitiously control your computing environment. You are entirely responsible for the acts of these third parties.

Special notification for citizens of the United States

Parts of this product may have been designed or implemented outside the United States by programmers who may not (personally) be friendly to United States interests, and who have, in any case, eliminated the jobs of tax-paying US workers.

Purchase or use of this software may marginalize, restrict, or eliminate one or more or your constitutionally guaranteed civil rights.

Use and enjoy!

Tax to encourage over eating ?

[Alain Williams]

• Texas, which taxes doughnuts only if you buy fewer than half a dozen

I now understand why USA citizens are so fat.