According to the Department of Commerce, by 2006, almost half the U.S. work force will be employed by industries that are either major producers or intensive users of information technology products and services. Restrictions often are placed on the use of the computer information being licensed. Traditional contract law, based on sales of goods and services, must be modified to reflect the reality of these new transactions.
Small companies play a large role in computer information transactions.
Most software and database companies are small, averaging fewer than 12 employees, but they often develop computer information products of significant commercial value to large companies. Thus, the traditional model of a large manufacturer or seller dealing with small buyers frequently is inverted in computer information transactions. Contract law must be modified to reflect these nontraditional relationships. Computer information transactions implicate fundamental free speech issues. Thus, the law should encourage and facilitate transactions that expand the distribution of computer information.