Re: [VulnWatch] Details of Sybase ASE bugs withheld

["Peter J. Holzer" <hjp () wsr ac at>]

On 2005-03-22 15:38:51 -0500, sean wrote:
> Another question, how can one prove that it was found by disassembling the code?

In the EU, reverse engineering is explicitely allowed if it is done to
ensure interoperability. (Is an exploit an interoperable program? :-))

> What if it were found by brute force testing?  I can't imagine that a company
> would prohibit the user from testing the functionality of a product they sell?

Oracle prohibits their users from publishing performance benchmarks.
(Not from doing benchmarks, mind you, just from publishing the results)

> A friend of mine told me this sort of legal piracy was commonplace -
> have there ever been any actual legal proceedings in a similar
> situation?

It is generally believed (at least here in Europe) that quite a lot of
the clauses in a typical licence are against the law and couldn't be
upheld before court. Companies probably hope that their customers will
comply anyway, either because they don't know their rights or because
they cannot afford a lengthy law suit (even if they have good chances of
winning).

        hp

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