Re: The new licensing model

["Lewis A. Mettler" <lmettler@lamlaw.com>]

Cem,

Cem Kaner wrote:
> 
> With Win 2000, MS is talking about changing its business model in several ways:
> 
> (1)     You get a limited time license to use the software, with a time bomb
> (automatic disabling) when the time runs out
> 
> (2)     You get maintenance (automatic updating, bug fixing, etc.) over the net
> 
> (3)     Some of that maintenance will entail complete access to your hard disk
> (look at McAfee's online computer checkup service, for example)
> 
> As other companies are doing (see, e.g. the Micron ads), software is being
> remarketed as a service. Among other things, this pulls the software out of
> goods-related laws (bye, bye warranty laws and several other consumer
> protection laws), although it firmly leaves software in the scope of the
> new Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act (which is very, very
> Microsoft-friendly). (The Reporter -- senior author -- of UCITA even worked
> as a consultant to MS -- on a separate matter, of course -- during part of
> the time that UCITA was being written.)
> 
> In the new regime:
> 
> (1)     what protections of your data (privacy) should apply? What restrictions
> should exist on megagiants' ability to access, store, and use your data?
> 
> (2)     what assurances of service should we be able to get from the large
> software/service providers?
> 
> (3)     to what extent will we see a new variation of anti-competitive conduct,
> for example you get error-free maintenance if your system has MS Office,
> but problems come up if you have StarOffice or Corel loaded instead?
> 
> To what extent should the MS remedies look forward to new types of abuses
> associated with the online service model?

The problem is with Microsoft management not the technology.

That is why the remedy must remove power from corrupt management. 
Otherwise, you will be required to implement an enormous amount of
regulations and rules.  And, the court is ill-suited to do that.

-- 
Lewis A. Mettler, Esq.(Attorney and Software Developer)
lmettler@LAMLaw.com
http://www.lamlaw.com/ (detailed review of the Microsoft antitrust
trial)