[NCLUG] Re: [rmiug-discuss] latest on UCITA

[charlie oriez]

On Wednesday 31 July 2002 00:29, bill ehlert wrote:
> "A controversial initiative to standardize U.S.
> state laws on software licensing faces a
> crucial vote this week, as battle-weary consumer
> advocates and tech companies pin
> their hopes on a legal gathering in Arizona."
>
>
>   http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104-947182.html
>
>

They commissioners dont vote until Thursday.  Each state gets one vote. 
Delegation majority wins.  I dont have a reliable nose count.  Our strong 
points are the states whose AGs signed the letter, or who considered and 
rejected the statute in legislative committee already, or who considered and 
passed bomb shelter legislation (WVa, Iowa, a couple of others).  Their 
strong points are probably the two states who already passed it plus states 
with someone on the drafting committee, although I heard one report that 
there was not even unanimity on the drafting committee (Mass. is on our side, 
for instance).
 
Additional reading is a story in the register which contains an obsolete list 
of the Colorado commissioners, and a copy of the red hat letter urging the 
commissioners to abandon it entirely and start over from scratch

http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/26382.html
http://www.ucitaonline.com/docs/ltrtoComPost.htm 

theregister has a list of email addresses for the colorado commissioners 
which is unfortunately obsolete.  I got the current list from AFFECT. While I 
can not lay my hands on it right now, I have part of it from memory.


Matt Smith - Republican <repmattsmith at qwest.net> he was carrying the 
unrelated UETA bill, so seems to have some tech savvy. Might be respected for 
that on the Republican side
 
Bill Thiebaut - Dem Senator / majority leader running for Lieutenant Governor 
<billthiebaut at qwest.net> I lobbied him briefly early in the session, 
confirmed that the Colorado legislature didnt intend to introduce anything 
this year.  I lobbied him thru Heath headquarters last week on the concept 
that if he took a lead role on this he could position himself as a consumer 
advocate, which is a nice place to be for a Democrat in a statewide race.

Also point out to both that our Atty Genl Ken Salazer was one of the signers 
on the national AG letter opposing UCITA.

Send the letters tomorrow.  Copy the Post and News. <letters at ....>  Probably 
wouldn't hurt to copy Ed Quillen at the Post.  <ed at cozine.com> He had some 
nice things to say this morning about linux, and may understand the open 
source argument.  Getting a piece from him on Thursday could be nice.

We work Colorado and hope that other people are doing the same in their 
states.  Then start over again in January if need be.


--
Charles Oriez, coriez at oriez.org
39  34' 34.4"N / 105 00' 06.3"W
**
...Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving
safely in one pretty and well preserved piece, but to slide across 
the finish line broadside, thoroughly used up, worn out, leaking oil, and
shouting GERONIMO!!! -- Bill McKenna, date unknown