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."

Comments

So if I purchase and THEN download...

[Rene S. Hollan]

Does the "purchase" somehow get "erased" if I download AFTER providing my billing information? Do I get a credit after I pay you and THEN download?

What part of "this makes no sense" does the court not get?

I can understand for the cases of a download of software when no money changes hands (and indeed, this helps those of us who want to provide code free of charge with no warranty attached -- use at you own risk). But, it makes no sense if money has changed hands.