IP: Rep. Boucher: End liability protection for software firms

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

> Date: Fri, 18 Jan 2002 12:11:55 -0800 (PST)
> From: Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2002 16:35:33 -0500
> From: Henry Huang <hwh6k () hotmail com>
> Subject: Boucher: End Liability Protection for Software Makers
>
> And so, the "only fix it if people find out about it" mentality of the 
> software industry
> FINALLY begins to reap bad fruit, after decades of neglect.
>
> A panel of experts assembled by the National Academy of Sciences has
> recommended that the special exemptions from product liability lawsuits
> given to software makers should be taken away.  Rep. Rick Boucher (D-VA),
> in particular, is quoted as saying:
>
> "The producers of software should be responsible for any flaws that the
> software contains."
>
> As much as everyone would like to see Microsoft sued into the ground, it
> ain't gonna happen.  A much more likely scenario is that smaller companies
> and producers of Open Source will quickly find themselves at the end of a
> sharp lawsuit -- clearing the way for companies who can afford to pay out
> lawsuits to continue as they are. Oh, the irony.
>
> http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-011402micro.story
>
> --
>
> Additionally, Bruce Scheiner has some interesting comments to make about
> Microsoft's attitude towards security, and how censoring bug information
> hurts far more than it helps.
>
> http://www.counterpane.com/crypto-gram-0201.html
>
> -H

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