mdoneil writes “A State law in Utah to ban spyware has been put on hold after a judge grants a preliminary injunction to Spyware firm.
WhenU.com appealed the enforcement of the law saying that it would harm their business. WhenU’s product is installed when computer users download and install software such as games or screensavers from WhenU’s website. The web sites visited are tracked and advertisements pop up when WhenU’s clients businesses match the computer user’s website choices. A car manufacturer may pop up an ad every time someone looks at car websites.
The Utah law would outlaw this type of software saying the users were tricked into installing the software, or failed to understand the license agreement.
This seems to fall into the no free lunch category. If you get some nifty game or screen saver there must be some reason the company can develop and distribute the application. If you fail to read a license agreement, or if you don’t understand it you shouldn’t install it. It seems government, including the State of Utah, should concern itself with more pressing matters of public safety.”
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