Software Industry

1 Pages 309 Words

The software industry has created ways for unsuccessful companies to be protected against willlingly misleading the public. In the case of Hopper Specialty Co., “who purchased a software product called Warehouse Manager from NCR”, theh company that cereated the software lied about the success of their product. This lie lead to tremendous losses for Hopper Specialty Co. However, “ NCR claimed that the product had been effectively deployed in 200 other installations, with no complaints. The product had numerous problems: response times of minutes for simple tasks, only one person could use the software at a time (although claimed to be multi-user), lost and corrupted data.” NCR states they are not responsible for the incurred losses because they are protected by standard Universal Agreement.
The real question is weather software sold after notification of the problems should be protected by this agreement. Business is simply business where ever it is conducted. The software industry should not be allowed to continue selling corrupt applications under the protection of the standard Universal Agreement. Business’s need to be forthcoming in regards to problems with their software. The Government should not pad this industry in order to gain a competitive advantage in the world-wide marketplace by encouraging unethical practices. All businesses have a responsibility to their shareholders. Limits on the damages caused should be the same in the software industry as in any other industry.
Unfortunately for Hopper Specialty Co. the standard Universal Agreement "limits payments to the original cost of the products and services acquired". In addition, the license requires that all disputes be arbitrated instead of litigated. The courts decision not to hear this case further facilitates an industry that has become a source of embarrassment and fraudulent activity which thrives on the general ignorance regarding technolo...