The Hon. Anthony A. Williams Dear Mayor Williams, I am writing on behalf of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers-United States of America (IEEE-USA) to express our concerns regarding the District of Columbia Uniform Computer Information Transaction Act of 2000 (Bill 13-607), a bill currently pending before the D.C. Council and its Committee on Consumer and Regulatory Affairs for review. Provisions of UCITA would provide a legal foundation and sanction for abusive business practices that could seriously harm consumers, businesses of all sizes, and software developers. UCITA would use local contract law to undermine the carefully-achieved balance of protections between owners and purchasers of intellectual property provided by Federal intellectual property law. In addition to allowing abuse of software purchasers, UCITA would straightjacket efforts by computer users, including the DC government, to provide information security protection for their systems. Enclosed is a copy of IEEE-USA’s recent position statement "Opposing Adoption of the Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act By the States." This position statement outlines these and other substantial problems with the proposed law, and their negative consequences for consumers and innovation. We hope that you will take these concerns into account as you interact with the Council on Bill 13-607. IEEE-USA promotes the career and technology interests of IEEE's 240,000 U.S. members, including many electrical, electronics, computer and software engineers who live and work in the District of Columbia. We would be pleased to help answer any questions you may have about this issue. Please contact Raymond Paul at 202-785-0017 (ext. 8331) or by email to r.paul@ieee.org if we can be of any assistance. Sincerely, Merrill W. Buckley, Jr. March 20, 2000 The Hon. Sharon Ambrose Dear Councilmember Ambrose, I am writing on behalf of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers-United States of America (IEEE-USA) to express our concerns regarding the District of Columbia Uniform Computer Information Transaction Act of 2000 (Bill 13-607), which we understand has been referred to the Committee on Consumer and Regulatory Affairs for review. Provisions of UCITA would provide a legal foundation and sanction for abusive business practices that could seriously harm consumers, businesses of all sizes, and software developers. UCITA would use local contract law to undermine the carefully-achieved balance of protections between owners and purchasers of intellectual property provided by Federal intellectual property law. In addition to allowing abuse of software purchasers, UCITA would straightjacket efforts by computer users, including the DC government, to provide information security protection for their systems. Enclosed is a copy of IEEE-USA’s recent position statement "Opposing Adoption of the Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act By the States." This position statement outlines these and other substantial problems with the proposed law, and their negative consequences for consumers and innovation. We hope that you will take these concerns into account as you deliberate on Bill 13-607. IEEE-USA promotes the career and technology interests of IEEE's 240,000 U.S. members, including many electrical, electronics, computer and software engineers who live and work in the state of Maryland. We request an opportunity to testify on their behalf at any hearings organized to address this legislation and would be pleased to help answer any questions you may have about this issue. Please contact Raymond Paul at 202-785-0017 (ext. 8331) or by email to r.paul@ieee.org if we can be of any assistance. Sincerely, Merrill W. Buckley, Jr. The Institute of Electrical
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