Kill the "ACCOPS" bill via applying it to Microsoft Windows!
Regarding the proposed "ACCOPS" law (post a copyright work, go to jail) Edward Felten has remarked:
As so often happens in these sorts of bills, the definition has unexpected consequences. For example, it would apparently categorize Microsoft Windows as "enabling software," since Windows offers both file server facilities and network search facilities. ...
I was just musing that the quickest way to kill this silly bill would be to apply it to Microsoft Windows - and in fact, such an application would be well-deserved! After all, if any software is worth a strong warning that it "could create a security and privacy risk for the user's computer", Microsoft Windows surely qualifies! Just yesterday, there was a notice:
A critical, remotely exploitable security vulnerability has been found in a part of the Microsoft Windows operating system software. This vulnerability affects all versions of Windows commonly run in SCS, including NT, 2000, and XP. It is important that people apply the appropriate patch to their PCs.
Details about the vulnerability can be found at:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-026.asp
That definitely sounds to me to be "a security and privacy risk for the user's computer"!
By Seth Finkelstein | posted in copyblight , security | on July 18, 2003 08:21 PM (Infothought permalink) | Followups
