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The Pure Software Act of 2006

Posted by michael on from the ideas-whose-time-have-come dept.

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."

6 of 261 comments (clear)

  1. The sound of silence by pudding7 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Anyone see the name as "Simon and Garfunkle"?

    I'll go back to work now...

    1. Re:The sound of silence by Prince+Vegeta+SSJ4 · · Score: 5, Funny

      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.

    2. Re:The sound of silence by brandond1976 · · Score: 5, Funny

      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?

  2. New label on Windows XP retail box by morelife · · Score: 4, Funny

    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.

  3. Re:Can there be a label... by dspfreak · · Score: 5, Funny
    to denote buggy code?

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

    --
    "Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions." -- G. K. Chesterton
  4. Nutrition Facts by ets960 · · Score: 4, Funny

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

    --
    Free Flat Screen