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Path: utzoo!watmath!looking!brad
From: brad@looking.UUCP (Brad Templeton)
Newsgroups: net.micro.pc
Subject: Re: Boiler plate warranties - software isn't that reliable
Message-ID: <332@looking.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 25-Aug-85 00:00:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: looking.332
Posted: Sun Aug 25 00:00:00 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 26-Aug-85 01:28:50 EDT
References: <3199@pur-ee.UUCP>
Reply-To: brad@looking.UUCP (Brad Templeton)
Organization: Looking Glass Software, Waterloo, Ont
Lines: 35
Summary: 

In article <3199@pur-ee.UUCP> kk9w@pur-ee.UUCP (David Andersen) writes:
>
>The fact that someone wrote that they are not responsible does
>not mean that they are not responsible.  If something breaks
>that a reasonable person thinks shouldnt, regardless of the
>boiler plate on the wrapper the manufacturer is liable for
>damages.  If my software screws up and causes me a substantial
>loss, the software manufacturer could be liable for those
>damages, possibly to the tune of 3M$ or more. 


You have got to be kidding here.   Software just isn't that reliable.
Whatever warranty system you use, you have to take into account how it
will be in practice.  All programs have bugs, and only massive redundancy
and great efforts can ensure software as safe.  Big companies might be
able to afford it, but you will kill the little guy requiring liability
like this.

Think about doctors and malpractice insurance.  Think about car insurance.
Immense awards are driving up the price to the consumer.  Some doctors
won't deliver babies anymore because of the price.

Some liability and warranty may be in order, but this magnitude is too
much if you want the little guy to be able to produce software.  Customers
who buy software must realize how complex a task writing it can be.
If I sell a C compiler, I could never possibly imagine all the different
kinds of code that might be written with it.  There might be safe things
or there might be a traffic control system.  If somebody writes a traffic
control system that causes a car crash because of a bug in my compiler,
am I liable?  Or do I have to put, "this compiler is suitable for compiling
only safe applications software that doesn't control physical machinery"
in my advertising?

-- 
Brad Templeton, Looking Glass Software Ltd. - Waterloo, Ontario 519/884-7473