So Why Can't I Listen To iTunes If I Work At A Nuke Plant?

Factual Questions
21

Agreed.

I’m all for such an EULA if it means that the blacklisted industries will write their code like NASA did for the space program, with multiple different algorithms used to back each other up, voting mechanisms to determine a winner when there is a disagreement among subsystems, extreme testing and so on.

I was just a little bit concerned for the folks that simply need a little DB for a noncritical system and can’t be bothered with triply-redundant mega-tested code, so they hack something together.

22

I believe that not only are many OSes and apps are subject to this boilerplate, but also at least one programming language: Java.
Begin aside:
I have to say though… I really, really hate the way that software vendors are allowed to exclude themselves from liability for their merchandise. If ANY VENDOR of physically substantial merchandise tried to encumber their end users with the kind of restrictions on liability that the software industry does, then:

  1. No one would buy it or
  2. No judge in his right mind would let the restrictions hold up in court.

I mean… correct me if I’m wrong, but Oracle licenses can cost upwards of $50,000 for a large enough site, but Oracle basically says “This might work, or it might not. We’re not sure. Please don’t expect us to remedy anything that happens if it doesn’t work, but we will sell you tech support for an arm and half a leg.”
If Cadillac tried to disclaim a new Escalade in the same way, I don’t thing it would be widely accepted.

23

Of course, you can’t exactly bootleg yourselve an Escalade off the net, either.

24

I work for a Fortune 1000 company.
If we ran a production Oracle instance without a valid license, the first time they laid off a database or server admin, Larry Ellison would get an anonymous tip REEEEAAAL fast. So… you or I might be able to bootleg Oracle, but I certainly couldn’t use it at work. And I have better ways of amusing myself at home than setting up Relational Database Management Systems and querying them for the heck of it.
I’ll bet you someone HAS sold a Cadillac with some stolen parts in it on Ebay, but not at stolen car prices. The aftermarket parts industry is RIFE with stolen goods.

25

What worries me is the mantra that every disclaimer came from someone, once, trying it.

Did someone once say to themselves:

Q. What can I use as the control system of the feedback for the control rods in the reactor in this nuclear submarine?
A. ITUNES!

? :open_mouth:

26

I would not be surprised to see this as the plot for an upcoming movie. And it’ll work! (Damn Hollywood writers. :stuck_out_tongue: )

27

I though stolen goods were the aftermarket parts industry?

28

Does this mean that Apple now includes a warning that repeated use of pre-fourth generation iPods (without the handy click-wheel that allows you to pause and go forward without moving your trusty thumb) may cause arthritis or repetitive strain injury to your all-important it’s-what-separates-us-from-the-animals opposable right thumb? However, for fourth-generation iPods, having the shuffle feature on the main menu might lead to depression caused by social isolation, since we all know that the iPod ‘likes’ to play your most embarrassing songs at parties! =)

29

I read a EULA once, and it turns out I have to be Bill Gates’s pool boy for a year.
–stolen from Scott Adams

30

Everything related to nuclear systems/ops must be verified/certified as proven to meet certain standards. Heck, you can’t even use just any calculating sofwtare until it is certified by the nuclear palnt as a valid program. And, what’s valid at Plant “A” may not be valid at Plant “B”…so, it’s all to assure the OS is sound, tried and true… - Jinx