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Dear Colleagues,

The February 16, 2000 edition of the Washington Post reported that the
Virginia House of Delegates and Senate gave final approval  to the
Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act (UCITA) on February 15.
This makes Virginia the first state to approve the revised code for
Internet contracts.  ARLIS/NA has joined fellow members of the Digital
Future Coalition in expressing opposition to UCITA, which in its present
form is considered by consumer advocates to be unfairly biased toward
the high-technology industry. From the Post article:

"The measure would make legally binding the restrictions that companies
place on how their software can be used. It would permit companies to
send binding legal notices by email about such restrictions, without any
proof that the email had reached its intended recipient.  Consumer
advocates complain that could bind customers to licensing agreements
that they didn't see until they had purchased a product. The measures
would also let companies reach into a customer's computer and disable a
product if the purchaser had fallen behind on payments."

Virginia Gov. James Gilmore has already indicated that he will sign the
measure.

Intensive lobbying by high-technology firms in the metropolitan
Washington DC area ensured that UCITA received swift consideration in
Virginia; action in Maryland is expected shortly.

ARLIS/NA is a member of 4CITE ("For a Competitive Information and
Technology Economy"), a broad-based coalition of users and developers
of computer and information technology formed to to support the growth
of fair and competitive markets in technology licensing and commerce.
The group has expressed its opposition to UCITA.  ARLIS/NA members
are encouraged to write or call their state legislators to express
opposition to this act.  More information, including a full list of 4CITE
members, and links to email for state legislators, is available at
www.4CITE.org.

Roger Lawson
Chair, ARLIS/NA Public Policy Committee

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