Software 'time bomb' threatens UK business

Legislation allowing vendors to remotely terminate end-user IT systems threatens to infiltrate UK software licences and place businesses at risk.

Anti-piracy watchdog Federation Against Software Theft (FAST) warned last week that the US Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act (UCITA) could form a part of UK software licences. The US act, which has been approved by the Senate, allows remote termination of mission-critical software without a court order.

UCITA has already been agreed at federal level and is now being adopted by US state legislatures. As a majority of licences are printed in the US it would impact any countries that receive US software.

Laurie Westwood, a FAST regional investigator, said: "The effects of UCITA are wide ranging and allow for the possibility of publishers switching off software remotely."

It allows a licensor to switch off software without a court order, if it suspects a user has broken licensing agreements. To turn off the software, vendors would either have to gain access to it at the customer site, or pre-install a 'time bomb'.

Ken Sproston, network manager for Chester City Council, told Network News that the act would push users towards using open source software.

"This legislation is absolutely crackers," he said.

It now seems likely that the legislation will filter into UK law. FAST warned UK enterprises buying US software to study the act in conjunction with any licensing agreement.

See also:

How to stamp out software piracy

Millions of pounds are lost through illegal use of software every year. We report on how you can make sure your company isn't making matters worse.  16 Aug 2000

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