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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.

7 of 252 comments (clear)

  1. Moo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Moo

  2. First? by Bombah · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    last post?

  3. I hope this law dies out... by Spawn+of+CowboyNeal · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    ...becauase I am the Spawn of CowboyNeal, and you will all bow before me!

  4. PLZ POST NUMA NUMA LINKS ORIGINAL VIDEO KTHX by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic
    1. Re:PLZ POST NUMA NUMA LINKS ORIGINAL VIDEO KTHX by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      Here you go! :) http://tinyurl.com/7odu

  5. But the real question is... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    .. when is RMS going to take a fucking shower?! It's ben like 10 years last i heard...

  6. Re:As if It's Going to Do A Thing... by iammrjvo · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Yes, and what fun would /. be without little flame wars?

    --
    Ha, ha! Nobody ever says Italy.