IEEE-USA Promoting Electrotechnology Careers and Public Policy

March 28, 2000

The Hon. Opio Toure
Chair, Judiciary Committee
Oklahoma House of Representatives
2300 N. Lincoln Blvd
Room 303A
Oklahoma City, OK 73105

Dear Chairman Toure:

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 Oklahoma Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act (S.B.1337).

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 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 stifle innovation and competition in the software industry and would straightjacket efforts by computer users 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 the Oklahoma UCITA bill.

IEEE-USA promotes the career and technology interests of IEEE's 240,000 U.S. members, including a number of electrical, electronics, computer and software engineers who live and work in the state of Oklahoma. We would be pleased to help answer any questions you may have about this issue. Please contact Chris Brantley at 202-785-0017 (ext. 8347) or by email to c.brantley@ieee.org if we can be of any assistance.

Sincerely,

Merrill W. Buckley, Jr.
2000 IEEE-USA President

(Note:  Same Letter also sent. to Rep. Jari Askins, House sponsor of S.B. 1337)

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers - United States of America
1828 L Street, N.W., Suite 1202, Washington, DC 20036-5104
Office: (202) 785-0017 * Fax: (202) 785-0835 * E-mail: ieeeusa@ieee.org


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Last Update: 28 March 2000
Staff Contact: Chris Brantley, c.brantley@ieee.org

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