Aha!! Gotcha there, Thomas. I freely admit I'm an addict (and probably not all that bright either). My eyesight is packing a suitcase as we speak.

Now can I sue Microsoft like smokers sue tobacco companies, or people who drive with hot coffee between their knees can sue McDonalds?

Alan

>Alan;
>
>The responsibility of the software vendor seems to be like so many people these days. Take no responsibility for your actions but give me what I demand! In this case you are provided with product that has known and unknown anomalies (bugs), which the creator writes a disclaimer for (Alright stupid! You bought this and you have to use it the way I say!) and then we have to wait for service packs which may or may not be forthcoming. Instead we will be assured that a new and more powerful version will be produced.
>
>Is there something wrong with our behavior by continuing to support this industry? Oh the things we do for money! :)
>
>We are somehow like an addict and not willing to admit it.
>
>Tom
>
>>Yes, exactly. But those limits are covered by existing laws. I have a lot of trouble accepting that the software industry is so different an animal that it should get special treatment that allows it to draw it's own separate limits.
>>
>>Is a contract between two parties of such disparate strength really acceptable in law? Normally a contract is a negotiated instrument. In this case, the software producer, knowing that we must use the software to earn a living in this industry, holds all the cards and is using that power, simply dictates terms above and beyond those held by the standard legal system. Isn't that, at least in part, what the Justice Department suit was about?
>>
>>It's easy to say we have a choice whether to buy and use the software, but in practical terms, do we really?
>>
>>Alan
>>
>>>Alan;
>>>
>>>Actually, there are limits to what you can do with different types of copyrighted material. Take recorded music for example. Can you play it in a public establishment, over the airwaves or Internet without breaking established laws? Can you Xerox a book? In reality we do have different types of laws and restrictions on many types of copyrighted material.
>>>
>>>Software seems like such a “strange duck”, with its dependency upon hardware, operating systems, other software and those that are physically impaired, (mentally impared users) just to give a short list.
>>>
>>>You see disclaimers for software that lead you to conclude you use it at your own risk and there are no guarantees that it will work or work for the purpose intended. Yet we are a part of this industry and it is becoming more refined all the time.
>>>
>>>Is this just a dream? Perhaps I have been behind a CRT for too many years. The radiation has gotten to me or God knows what! :)
>>>
>>>Tom
>>>
>>>