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Anti-Spyware Law Snags Anti-Spyware Vendor
Country Lawyer writes "Washington state's anti-spyware law has just resulted in a $1 million victory for the state, the first successful prosecution under the new law. The weird thing? They sued an anti-spyware vendor." From the article: "Washington State went after the company after 1,145 state residents purchased the software and the complaints began rolling in. Secure Computer president Paul Burke will now pay $200,000 in penalties, make $75,000 worth of restitution to Washington residents, and pay another $725,000 to cover the state's attorneys' fees. The irony of an anti-spyware law being used against an anti-spyware vendor was not commented upon."
that a handful of LAWYERS get $750,000 meanwhile the real engine of the economy, people who bought and used the thing have to split $75,000.
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In that case, it's the law that needs to be changed. Currently, it appears that it only severes to get your money back+ some small ammount. If they want damages, I guess there is small claims court. Laws haven't exactly caught up to the computer age, or the domino effect that a crazy computer program can cause on a system (computer or otherwise).
Fly me to the moon Let me sing among those stars Let me see what spring is like On jupiter and mars
..."induce a computer user to download software by falsely claiming the software is necessary for security purposes,"...
You mean like MS WGA that was pushed as security update ?
Why did the state need a new law to handle this? Two thousand year old Roman law would have been adequate for a fraud conviction.
Excuse me, but please get off my Pennisetum Clandestinum, eh!