Many people have seen Isabel and I debate the pros and cons of SaaS and Web 2.0 technology. While by and large I talk about potential liability issues stemming from the sale and use of this technology, there is a certain curmudgeonly aspect to my side of the debate: I’m simply not a convert. In spite of all the fabulousness that this technology promises, I still remain skeptical. In my mind, Web 2.0 in particular, conjures up the ghosts of 2001. In thinking about this, I wonder are Shopster, and twitter the next riot-e? Admittedly, I’m not a business guru, but the only business application I can think of for twitter is for police departments to use it to keep an eye on individuals wearing monitoring anklets. I can see the “mash up” now: the LAPD sells twitter feeds of celebrity monitoring anklets to the National Enquirer so that they can buy some new patrol cars. However, in the spirit of open-mindedness, I’ve decided to go to the Office 2.0 conference to see if the time is right for this new technology. The Office 2.0 conference is “aimed at discovering the future of online productivity & collaboration.” For me, this seems to be the best shot SaaS and Web 2.0 technologies have at true acceptance and profitability. Rather than be an armchair CEO, I’m going to approach my participation in the conference in the same way I approach my debates with Isabel: how have the companies that market these new technologies addressed real world legal issues? I plan on blogging from the event to see which companies, and speakers, discuss the following issues:
Is there a contract that customers can rely on (as opposed to "beta" products)?
What kind of support does the company provide?
Are intellectual property rights allocated appropriately?
Have privacy and data distribution issues been addressed?
In subsequent entries I'll discuss why I think each of these points is a valid legal issue. Next week I'll blog from the conference itself. We'll see if Isabel is right. Let the wagering begin.
About David Snead
David Snead is a lawyer whose practice is focused on internet infrastructure providers. In his eleven years in this practice, he has represented clients including multinationals, middle tier hosting companies, and two guys, a server, a T-1 and a huge MasterCard balance.
A long-time WHIR contributor, David Snead is the Web hosting business's best-known legal expert. Through his WHIR blog, he offers a credible legal perspective on both specific actions in the Web hosting business and general developments in legislation.
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