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Path: utzoo!utcsri!utai!lamy
From: lamy@utai.UUCP (Jean-Francois Lamy)
Newsgroups: net.micro
Subject: Re: Your software rights are in danger
Message-ID: <1099@utai.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 22-Dec-85 09:06:09 EST
Article-I.D.: utai.1099
Posted: Sun Dec 22 09:06:09 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 22-Dec-85 09:42:53 EST
References: <9400009@uiucuxa> <9400010@uiucuxa> <290@yetti.UUCP> <963@ecsvax.UUCP>
Reply-To: lamy@utai.UUCP (Jean-Francois Lamy)
Organization: CSRI, University of Toronto
Lines: 34
Summary: Is behaviour X a bug or a feature?

In article <963@ecsvax.UUCP> dgary@ecsvax.UUCP (D Gary Grady) writes:
>On the other hand, I certainly do think that software that fails to
>perform up to the publisher's claims should be returnable for a full and
>immediate refund.

This only applies for clear-cut cases, such as gross misrepresentation
(e.g. fallacious benchmark figures, missing features). However one can
certainly do text processing using a Paint program.  I think it is
more often the case that a program is ILL-SUITED. Can we really expect
a legal imposition of "Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back"
warranties?  Does this really apply to software which you tried out at
your friendly neighbourhood computer shop?  Or would it only apply to the
"mail-order" category (Under Quebec laws returning a merchandise within
7 days in it's original packaging (which you are allowed to open)
intitles you to a full refund -- I do not know if this would override
the licensing agreement).

I find it amusing that a lot of software is sold the same way miracle
medicines are...

>extending the Magnusson-Moss "implied warranty of merchantability or
>fitness for a particular purpose" to all software.

Eh? (for American readers: Huh?).

-- 

Jean-Francois Lamy
Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto,
Departement d'informatique et de recherche operationnelle, U. de Montreal.

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