UCITA DEAD IN OKLAHOMA

Proponents of the Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act (UCITA) suffered a double setback as UCITA legislation (SB697) in Oklahoma died in the Senate Appropriations Committee and the American Bar Association (ABA) refused to take a formal position on the act during its Midyear Meeting in Seattle. According to the National Association of Independent Insurers (NAII), which opposed it, the UCITA model as developed by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws (NCCUSL) seeks to establish new commercial law for the licensing of information-based products. The NAII believes the proposal would negatively affect consumers and businesses. UCITA was originally adopted in July 1999, but only Maryland and Virginia have adopted the act. In 2002 the model act was amended by NCCUSL and is now under consideration for introduction in a number of states.