At first glance, something like this seems to be a good idea for consumers. But as a software developer, I can say with complete certainty that it would drive the cost of software into the stratosphere, and run every software company that’s smaller than Microsoft or IBM out of business.
And if Microsoft had the only spreadsheet program that it was legal to sell, do you think they’d bother improving it anymore? Their actions once they’d won the browser wars of the ’90s say otherwise.
Don’t worry, it won’t come to the United States, we don’t have regulation as much as Europe does. In this case that’s a good thing.
If this were to pass in Europe, it would affect software development world-wide.
Just don’t sell the software in Europe, and keep them from being allowed to download it from a European IP. Problem solved. :^)
I think you’re missing the point. 🙂
300 million mostly middle-class customers in Europe? Who needs ’em!
“Linux group, Microsoft form unholy alliance against US lawyers“
What was that about this kind of thing not coming to the US, Ploni? 😉
Never underestimate the ability of the legal profession to keep itself employed….
🙂