3 ms·

What is great is it could bring some much needed clarity on the subject. A ruling against the EULA might bring some clarity to the limits of powers tech compan

What is great is it could bring some much needed clarity on the subject. A ruling against the EULA might bring some clarity to the limits of powers tech companies have over us. A ruling for the EULA might shine a light the power these companies DO have and force governments to bring in laws to curb them. It is not a good situation, where Apple / Microsoft could turn around and say to someone who broke the EULA or perhaps even to someone who didn't, we are revoking our agreement you can no longer use our software. Leaving them virtually unemployable in many sectors, and similarly they are in the position to absolutely cripple the vast majority of businesses with the same tactics.

ethbr0 5y ago
What normal people probably want is the state of affairs that historically existed: Government (legislative) mandates via law what rights consumers are entitled to, that cannot be stripped from them. Companies are free to request waiving or agreeing to anything not enumerated in the above. What's broken down recently is that legislatures aren't doing their job of proactively mandating consumer rights, and consequently companies are requiring whatever they think they can get away with: forced arbitration, lease-not-own, arbitrary right to revoke usage grants, prohibiting user / independent repairs, etc.
- kmonsen 5y ago
  Realistically speaking we have no legislature anymore.
  - ethbr0 5y ago
    In what sense?
    - kmonsen 5y ago
      In the sense that new laws are really difficult to do in the age of polarization. So instead the executive branch issues orders and the judiciary interprets laws in creative ways.
      - ethbr0 5y ago
        H.R.3684 (aka "Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act" aka "INVEST in America Act" aka "the Infrastructure Bill") passed the House 221/201/8 [0] and the Senate 69/30/1 [1]. Admittedly not the best numbers, but not terrible either. [0] https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2021208 https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2021208 [1] https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=117&session=1&vote=00314 https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_...
        kmonsen 5y ago
        I think this is my point, this was a very non-controversial bill made in as much as a bi-partisan way as we can. It is also very similar to what Trump called infrastructure week. Still it got 2!! republican votes in the house. In the senate it was a bit better, but still 30/50 republicans voted no. I think if Trump proposed the very same bill more or less all republicans would have been on board.
      - salawat 5y ago
        Actually, it's worse. The legislature creates executive Agencies to create Administrative Law, thus freeing them of any responsibility besides budget, political theater, and insider trading.

ethbr0 5y ago

What normal people probably want is the state of affairs that historically existed: Government (legislative) mandates via law what rights consumers are entitled to, that cannot be stripped from them. Companies are free to request waiving or agreeing to anything not enumerated in the above. What's broken down recently is that legislatures aren't doing their job of proactively mandating consumer rights, and consequently companies are requiring whatever they think they can get away with: forced arbitration, lease-not-own, arbitrary right to revoke usage grants, prohibiting user / independent repairs, etc.

kmonsen 5y ago
Realistically speaking we have no legislature anymore.
- ethbr0 5y ago
  In what sense?
  - kmonsen 5y ago
    In the sense that new laws are really difficult to do in the age of polarization. So instead the executive branch issues orders and the judiciary interprets laws in creative ways.
    - ethbr0 5y ago
      H.R.3684 (aka "Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act" aka "INVEST in America Act" aka "the Infrastructure Bill") passed the House 221/201/8 [0] and the Senate 69/30/1 [1]. Admittedly not the best numbers, but not terrible either. [0] https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2021208 https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2021208 [1] https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=117&session=1&vote=00314 https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_...
      - kmonsen 5y ago
        I think this is my point, this was a very non-controversial bill made in as much as a bi-partisan way as we can. It is also very similar to what Trump called infrastructure week. Still it got 2!! republican votes in the house. In the senate it was a bit better, but still 30/50 republicans voted no. I think if Trump proposed the very same bill more or less all republicans would have been on board.
    - salawat 5y ago
      Actually, it's worse. The legislature creates executive Agencies to create Administrative Law, thus freeing them of any responsibility besides budget, political theater, and insider trading.