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In AU, Court Rules Downloaded Software Is Not "Goods"
bennyboy64 writes "A court decision ruling that the supply of software through a digital download mechanism is not a supply of 'goods' has been upheld in the Supreme Court of New South Wales in Australia, setting a precedent that software downloaded via the Internet is not protected by the Sale of Goods Act, reports ZDNet. It's a court decision that lawyer Patrick Gunning said attorneys had been waiting to have clarified for some time. What this meant was that 'people who purchase software will have more legal rights if they buy over the counter rather than downloading,' Gunning said."
You're an idiot.
Software still needs to be transferred from the physical medium, it doesn't magically appear on your hard drive. Thus, the method of distribution is irrelevant. Whether it's downloaded, provided on a CD/DVD, Flash drive, software NEEDS TO BE INSTALLED.
And FYI the physical medium is irrelevant to the software, it is used strictly as a means of conveyance.
The Jude was a complete and utter moron and yes it was his fucking job to interpret the law. Nothing in the law states that software need to be provided on some physical medium to act as an "over the counter" purchase!