It is good. The software industry matured enough to be held resposible for the products it produces. When you buy a complex consumer product (TV, car, microwave) you expect it to work. If it does not - well, there are laws protecting your rights as consumer from being ripped off by manufacturers of poor quality consumer goods.
Now, software is marketed (presented) and sold like if it is a consumer product, thus meeting requirements of basic cunsumer protection laws. In reality the fine print on the EULA states that the product is useless, and not fit to any particular purpose. This is misrepresentation (a lie, in plain English). The consumer protection laws should demand that the uselessness of such software should be indicated prominantly on the packaging and in advertsement.
It's time for the industry to grow up and start producing quality products, and take responcibility for it's actions
Slashdot Mirror
It is good. The software industry matured enough to be held resposible for the products it produces. When you buy a complex consumer product (TV, car, microwave) you expect it to work. If it does not - well, there are laws protecting your rights as consumer from being ripped off by manufacturers of poor quality consumer goods. Now, software is marketed (presented) and sold like if it is a consumer product, thus meeting requirements of basic cunsumer protection laws. In reality the fine print on the EULA states that the product is useless, and not fit to any particular purpose. This is misrepresentation (a lie, in plain English). The consumer protection laws should demand that the uselessness of such software should be indicated prominantly on the packaging and in advertsement. It's time for the industry to grow up and start producing quality products, and take responcibility for it's actions