Well, it seems that numerous big giant companies are intent on screwing
over the consumer with forced updates.
There's an article over on /. about Sun including an almost MS like
clause that allows them to automatically run basically whatver they want
on your system. And this ain't the Windows version:
From the Linux JRE Liscense Agreement for Java 2 Runtime Environment,
Standard Edition 1.4.0_01:
"5. Notice of Automatic Software Updates from Sun. You acknowledge that
the Software may automatically download, install, and execute applets,
applications, software extensions, and updated versions of the Software
from Sun ("Software Updates"), which may require you to accept updated
terms and conditions for installation. If additional terms and
conditions are not presented on installation, the Software Updates will
be considered part of the Software and subject to the terms and
conditions of the Agreement."
A scary trend indeed. Also, the liscense does not mention if their
software includes mechanisms to enforce this clause or not.
Another article on /. points out that this may cause problems in fields
where privacy is legally protected, such as the medical field. Could it
be possible that since Sun and Microsoft have given themselves free
reign over your system, that systems running this software (JRE or Win2k
SP3/XP SP1) are legally prohibited from storing medical data? Maybe
these idiotic claues will backfire on that front, or maybe they'll just
get enough people mad at them that folks will "Vote with their dollars"
(which is never a pretty thing).
--MonMotha
