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ABA Rejects Measure Supporting UCITAAt its Midyear Meeting in Seattle February 10, the American Bar Association House of Delegates withdrew a resolution that recommended approval of the Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act (UCITA) by state legislatures. The withdrawal of the resolution followed increasing opposition to the controversial package of laws regulating software licensing, the American Library Association’s Washington Office reports. The measure failed to garner support from six ABA sections and two relevant committees, and seven of the nine members of the ABA Working Group appointed to review UCITA in 2001 advised delegates that recent amendments to the act failed to make it appropriate for approval. “ALA was successful in its efforts to slow this legislation down because we were part of a large and diverse national coalition,” Carol Ashworth, UCITA grassroots coordinator for the ALA Washington Office, told American Libraries. “This is an important victory but it does not mean we have won yet. Proponents have already announced their intentions to pursue passage in other states, and Oklahoma is now actively considering UCITA.” ALA joined with the Association of Research Libraries, the American Association of Law Libraries, the Special Libraries Association, the Medical Libraries Association, the Art Libraries Society of North American, and the Association of American Universities in opposing UCITA. The library associations were founding members of AFFECT (Americans for Fair Electronic Commerce Transactions), a national coalition of businesses, financial institutions, consumer advocates, and technology professionals that took the lead in fighting the legislation. Posted February 17, 2003. |
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