TCPA / Palladium FAQ

[Ross Anderson]

> Software developer was found guilty under the act for
> building in a Trojan that deleted a program which he had licensed when
> payment was not received within the T&C of the contract

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Court decides software time-locks are illegal
A Collins
Computer Weekly (19 August 93) p 1

A software writer who used a time-bomb to ensure that his customers 
paid on time has been convicted by a magistrates' court in Scunthorpe, England,
of `making an unauthorised modification'. Under Britain's Computer Misuse Act, 
this is punishable by up to five years' imprisonment; but the defendant was 
given a conditional discharge. Industry sources are quoted as saying that such 
time-bombs are a common industry practice; in future, vendors who include them 
will be committing a criminal offence unless the customer is adequately 
notified of their existence.