Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

House To Enact Anti-Spyware Law

Posted by Zonk on from the but-bonzer-buddy-wants-to-be-your-friend! dept.

Stephen Samuel wrote to mention that the U.S. House of Representatives has readied the aptly acronymed Securely Protect Yourself Against Cyber Trespass Act (SPY ACT) for law. MS-BS has an article claiming that the bill allows a loophole for the makers of proprietary software. The issue at hand concerns Section 5, paragraph b, subsection 2, under the heading of limitations. The law does not apply to: "(2) a discrete interaction with a protected computer by a provider of computer software solely to determine whether the user of the computer is authorized to use such software, that occurs upon (A) initialization of the software; or (B) an affirmative request by the owner or authorized user for an update of, addition to, or technical service for, the software." The law, then, would disallow Gator and their ilk but would not hamper Microsoft's Genuine Advantage Program. More complete commentary is available at TechReview and About.com.

15 of 252 comments (clear)

  1. Who named this? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Securely Protect Yourself Against Cyber Trespass Act (SPY ACT)

    So wouldn't this be the SPY ACT Act?

    Are these the same people who scream about having their PIN Numbers stolen at the ATM Machines?

    1. Re:Who named this? by EkkiEkkiShiwaddle · · Score: 4, Funny
      No, no, you don't understand - it has nothing to do with SPY ACT.

      Securely Protect Yourself Against Cyber Trespass Act refers to the Klingon "Spyac T'A!", which means "save yourself from cyber trespassers".

      So you see, the name is indeed a very good one.

      Yeah, that must be it.

    2. Re:Who named this? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Oh, STFU the fuck up already.

  2. Cut It Out by Doesn't_Comment_Code · · Score: 5, Funny

    I would like to see a bill that prohibits congress from awkwardly wording bill names to create acronyms.

    --

    Slashdot Syndrome: the sudden, extreme urge to correct someone in order to validate one's self.
    1. Re:Cut It Out by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      We'll call it

      Cut Repetitive, Uninformitive Functionless Titling of Legislation, Establish Succinct Statutes (CRUFTLESS)

    2. Re:Cut It Out by OECD · · Score: 5, Funny

      I would like to see a bill that prohibits congress from awkwardly wording bill names to create acronyms.

      I agree. We can call it the No Acronyms May Exist act.

      Wait...

      --
      One man's -1 Flamebait is another man's +5 Funny.
  3. B..b..but by GillBates0 · · Score: 4, Funny
    Won't somebody think of the Bonzie Buddy?

    Bonzie Buddy loves children!

    "SPYACT kills cute furry pets" campaign.

    --
    An Indian-American Hindu committed to non-violent thought/speech/action alarmed by the global explosion of radical Islam
  4. Wait a second... by J-Doggqx · · Score: 3, Funny
    This acronym is SPY ACT, but the full name is SPY ACT Act?

    Did the Department of Redundancy Department come up with this?

    --
    END OF LINE
  5. Re:Story is slightly over-rated. by killmenow · · Score: 2, Funny
    but if you insist on using Windows, then you should be paying for it
    Believe me, I am...
  6. Re:Why the hell... by The+Patient · · Score: 3, Funny
    Because we at the US Department Of Acronyms have to do something to justify our paychecks.

    We're working on naming a bill which deals with the Nigerian 419 scam -- the Fraudulent and Unethical Computerized Kiting Organizations Filtering and Forwarding Act.

    Also, the Detect and Identify Email According to Selected Spyware Heuristics On Local EMail Servers Act may be introduced at some point.

  7. Re:Good acronyms? by legojenn · · Score: 2, Funny

    Well, In Canada, before the 2000 election, the "so far right, we are out of touch" Reform Party renamed itself to look a little more progressive to the "Canadian Reform Alliance Party". I have to say, that acronym really worked for them.

    --
    I make a reasonable middle-class wage by going to work and not spamming blogs with scams.
  8. Re:hmmmm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    So if a girl signs a contract that says she has to be somebody's slave

    I thought marriage vows (love, honour and obey) was legally OK in the USA?

  9. Acronyms by null+etc. · · Score: 3, Funny
    SPY ACT:

    Silly Politicians Yearn for Acronyms and Catchy Terms

    soon to become:

    Senators Pass Yet Another Crazy Trap

    with an inevitable transition to:

    Start Protecting Your Ass(ets) from Corporate Targeting
  10. Hated Speech Pattern by TheGax · · Score: 2, Funny

    SPY ACT act?

    Please let me use my PIN number at the ATM machine.

  11. More government...sheesh... by kullenwulf · · Score: 2, Funny

    Just what we need. Oh wait, I'm having a Mtn. Dew inspired vision....
    Department of Computer Related Anti Piracy
    A.K.A. D-CRAP.
    Ah, where'd that Dew go...