“A coalition of several hundred software companies, including
Microsoft, AT&T, and IBM, has requested assistance from the
United Nations in developing an infrastructure for delivering
software updates and patches on an international level. The
coalition is called the Application Service Provider Industry
Consortium.”
” But why the United Nations? Given the UN’s ability to entangle
itself in situations without really trying, do we really want the
UN involved in software updates? Besides, what’s really wrong with
what we currently have?”
“Then again, is this the beginning of UCITA on a global scale?
Since a corporation’s ability to pursue software pirates is limited
in such legally difficult areas as sub-Saharan Africa, southeast
Asia, and the kid down the street with a CD-RW drive in his
parents’ computer, the United Nations seems a perfect ally to
enforce global restrictions on who can use their products, and how,
and when.”