Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!husc6!mailrus!eecae!cps3xx!usenet
From: usenet@cps3xx.UUCP (Usenet file owner)
Newsgroups: comp.misc
Subject: Re: Software ``Contracts''
Message-ID: <1355@cps3xx.UUCP>
Date: 22 Dec 88 17:53:46 GMT
References: <6519@killer.DALLAS.TX.US>
Organization: Engineering, Michigan State U., E. Lansing MI
Lines: 27

In all of this, few people have actually considered the ramifications of
the software ``contract'' itself.  Correct me if I am in error, but does
not the balance of current software ``contracts'' state that:

	The product is not guarenteed to PERFORM in any promised manner,

and that:

	The manufacturer is not responsible for any damages that the
	purchasor might incur through the USE of the software.

What this means is that the software is not guarenteed to DO anything,
and even if it does, the manufacturer can not be held responsible for
it's performance or lack thereof.

If this ``warranty'' were on a car, or a toaster, or a contraceptive, I
certainly wouldn't buy one!  How do software manufacturers get away with
this?  Why do we, as the consuming public, stand for this?

``Inquiring minds want to know!''
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Robert Raisch - TechnoJunkie & UnixNut| UseNet: {uunet,mailrus}!frith!raisch
Network Software Group-301 Comp.Center| InterNet: raisch@frith.egr.msu.edu 
Michigan State University, E. Lansing | ICBMNet: 084 28 50 W / 42 43 29 N
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      The meek WILL inherit the Earth, (Some of us have other plans).
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