LinuxWorld: Making the grade – We need to protect consumers from lousy software

“The software quality issue isn’t the only way that UCITA hurts
consumers. According to opponents, UCITA allows software vendors to
“repossess” software by disabling it remotely, forbids you from
giving away or selling the software you don’t need anymore unless
you have permission from the vendor, and outlaws reverse
engineering. If we could get the “absolute guarantee” issue off the
table, maybe we would make more inroads on the rest of these
issues.”

“There is a well-worn argument against the Uniform Computer
Information Transactions Act (UCITA) — and in favor of consumer
software rights in general — that goes, “Software isn’t guaranteed
by companies the way other consumer goods, like cars, are.”

“That is certainly true, and I deplore the fact that there are
software companies out there which not only foist schlock on an
unwitting public, but call it production-quality software. However,
I also can’t agree with the general prescription offered to solve
the problem. Making all software companies responsible for all
defects in all software will invite suits and settlements like of
the infamous McDonald’s “Warning: coffee is hot” case. (Those
who aren’t already familiar with UCITA can find relevant
information in the Resources section of this article; the facts on
the McDonald’s case are also there.)”

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