Folks, this one's not a joke.

March 5, 2000 7:20 AM

Folks, this one's not a joke. The major software publishers are trying to make an end-run around the copyright laws. If this passes anywhere we're all potentially going to be bound by it. All they have to do is stick a clause in the license that says "This shall be governed by the laws of the state of Virginia."

They're also trying to make an end-run around the First Amendment. If this passes it will be illegal for you to write a review about any software package, or to reveal any information about bugs you find.

Finally, they're trying to make an end-run around property law. If it passes, you won't own the software you purchase, you'll be leasing it, and you won't be protected by state laws on commercial purchase.
posted by Steven Den Beste (5 comments total)

How can we best fight this? Who should we contact to vote against this? The software industry is outrageous. As far as the first amendment issue, won't that make the law unconstitution and therefore easily challenged?
posted by greyscale at 8:42 AM on March 5, 2000

You can send a message online to the governer of Virginia to urge him to veto this bill.

Be polite!
posted by Steven Den Beste at 8:42 AM on March 5, 2000

Send your message to the governor before Wednesday, March 8, 2000; after that it's probably pointless because he'll have already made a decision.
posted by Steven Den Beste at 9:21 AM on March 5, 2000

what's an end run?
posted by muta at 2:43 PM on March 5, 2000

See the definition of end-run here.
posted by Steven Den Beste at 4:41 PM on March 5, 2000