Rant on, Gene! Microsoft’s free ride has come to an end.

“Maybe we are getting to the point that it should be made illegal to add to or alter any operating code on somebody else’s computer without obtaining that person’s consent.”

Microsoft (or any other software developer) could easily get around such a law by including statements in the EULA that state that use of the software implies or otherwise grants consent to perform such actions (secret automatic updates, or complete control of your computing environment).

I am sure if a few lawyers actually read Microsoft’s typical EULA, rather than click past it, they’d see some horrible stuff. That, however, never seems to happen. Even then, the legality of the agreement itself, which is fashioned in this way, may also be subject to question and deserves a full legal test.

Peace,
Gene

“Maybe we are getting to the point that it should be made illegal to add to or alter any operating code on somebody else’s computer without obtaining that person’s consent.”

Microsoft (or any other software developer) could easily get around such a law by including statements in the EULA that state that use of the software implies or otherwise grants consent to perform such actions (secret automatic updates, or complete control of your computing environment).

This is the kind of stuff that makes me glad I switched.

Thanks, Gene. I love Microsoft rants. Perhaps you’d like the one I wrote, “Microsoft Has Gone Insane”, a couple months ago:

http://logicalvue.com/blog/2007/06/microsoft-has-gone-insane/

Thanks, Paul.

Peace,
Gene

Thanks, Gene. I love Microsoft rants. Perhaps you’d like the one I wrote, “Microsoft Has Gone Insane”, a couple months ago:

http://logicalvue.com/blog/2007/06/microsoft-has-gone-insane/

Maybe we are getting to the point that it should be made illegal to add to or alter any operating code on somebody else’s computer without obtaining that person’s consent. And I do not think that upgrades or modifications to existing software ought to be exempted from such a law. There are many good reasons why a user might want to refuse an upgrade (as is acknowledged in the way that Apple’s Software Updater is designed — it always politely asks you first and gives you the opportunity to decline).

Technically speaking ‘unauthorised modification’ of computer software is already illegal in the United Kingdom, see http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1990/Ukpga_19900018_en_1.htm

However, when has the law stopped Microsoft from doing anything?

Maybe we are getting to the point that it should be made illegal to add to or alter any operating code on somebody else’s computer without obtaining that person’s consent. And I do not think that upgrades or modifications to existing software ought to be exempted from such a law. There are many good reasons why a user might want to refuse an upgrade (as is acknowledged in the way that Apple’s Software Updater is designed — it always politely asks you first and gives you the opportunity to decline).

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