[ale] OT: License restrictions (reasons why?)

[Jeff Hubbs]

That kind of language is very common in EULAs and is basically a way for 
the manufacturer to say that their stuff isn't "human-rated" in the way, 
oh, the Space Shuttle's guidance computers are.  So, they're saying, if 
you use our stuff to do brain surgery and it crashes and perferates 
someone's medulla in the process, it's your bad.

Jim Popovitch wrote:
> >From Sun's JRE license:
>
> 	3.  RESTRICTIONS.  Software is confidential and copyrighted.
> 	Title to Software and all associated  intellectual  property
> 	rights is  retained  by Sun  and/or  its  licensors.  Unless
> 	enforcement  is prohibited  by  applicable  law, you may not
> 	modify,   decompile,  or  reverse  engineer   Software.  You
> 	acknowledge  that  Licensed  Software  is  not  designed  or
> 	intended for use in the design,  construction,  operation or
> 	maintenance of any nuclear facility.  Sun Microsystems, Inc.
> 	disclaims  any  express or implied  warranty of fitness  for
> 	such  uses.  No  right,  title  or  interest  in  or to  any
> 	trademark,  service  mark,  logo or trade name of Sun or its
> 	licensors  is  granted  under  this   Agreement.  Additional
> 	restrictions for developers  and/or publishers  licenses are
> 	set forth in the Supplemental License Terms.
>
>
> Most of the above makes sense to me... however the part about "operation
> or maintenance of any nuclear facility" has always made me wonder why.
> I do realize the dangers of nuclear power plants and their dependence on
> systems that operate and manage them.   What I don't understand is why
> Sun doesn't restrict Java use from everything else that could have
> near-catastrophic incidents.  Things like trains carrying nuclear bombs,
> FAA traffic control, mass-produced heart monitors, etc.  Also, why even
> put "nuclear facility" in there when those facilities most certainly
> have used MS Windows somewhere in their design, construction, operation
> or maintenance.
>
> Anyone know the history about how that got into that license?
>
> -Jim P.
>
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