more on making file-sharing a felony

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

------ Forwarded Message
From: David Sklar <sklar () sklar com>
Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2003 14:47:05 -0400
To: dave () farber net, ip <ip () v2 listbox com>
Subject: RE: [IP] making file-sharing a felony

Another bug in the legislation:

"Whoever knowingly offers enabling software for download over the Internet"
must warn any downloader that "it is enabling software and could create a
security and privacy risk for the user's computer; and obtain that person's
prior consent to the download after that warning".

However, the bill defines "enabling software" as "software that, when
installed on the user's computer, enables 3rd parties to store data on that
computer, or use that computer to search other computers contents over the
Internet."

So, presumably software that lets third parties store data like cookies is
included? And any server that allows any kind of upload or file transfer
(HTTP servers, SMTP servers, etc.)? And any client that downloads data from
one of those servers?

On the other hand, maybe this is good -- before downloading a service pack
for MS Outlook, users will have to acknowledge the security and privacy
risk. :)

David


------ End of Forwarded Message

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