It's My Computer

Copyright (c) 2004 Mark Smith, 7B Software, Inc.
Permission is granted to copy without modification, as long as attribution is given to the author.

In It's Your Computer I described the forces out there that are trying to pry your computer from your ownership. In this page I want to let you in on something that I realized while musing on the theme a bit more.

Windows Explorer

Look at your Windows Explorer. It has a folder called My Computer. Underneath this folder are a set of drive names and icons, and under that are all of the computer's files and such.

Have you ever thought about the possibility that Microsoft is, by labeling this folder in this way, warranteeing that all data underneath that folder is in fact owned by you?

And do you think it is possible that Microsoft is thus indemnifying you against the kinds of spyware and other attack software that I described in It's Your Computer? As well as releasing you from the EULA software license you no doubt checked when you first received your Microsoft box?

EULA vs Ownership

The Microsoft EULA is in direct conflict with the concept of your ownership of your computer and all of the software and data in it. If you're the enterprising sort, you might want to try to actually assert the right that Microsoft has ceded to you here.

If you think this is without precedent, think again. In the old days (the early 1980s) an attempt by a computer company to bring charges against a hacker was thwarted when the hacker correctly pointed out that, when initially attempting to break into the system, the computer's printed out the banner Welcome to the XYZ computer on the hacker's monitor. Obviously, if the computer was welcoming the hacker in, the hacker was within his rights to enter the computer.

Truth in Labeling

What Microsoft should label the folder with is something like My Computer That I Rent From Microsoft And Allow Anyone Else with a Website and an Axe to Grind or Money to Make to Use When They Want.

Last modified: May 2004