Ground rules for software maintenance

U.S. Congressman Joe Knollenberg (R-Mich.) has introduced a bill to let third-party computer-service companies provide maintenance to licensed software. The bill is under consideration in the Subcommittee on Courts and Intellectual Property, part of the House Judiciary Committee. This article explains the steps one should take before servicing software: (1) examine user rights; (2) determine the type of agreement; and (3) identify specific restrictions