-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- <http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=622364> SSRN Deworming the Internet DOUGLAS BARNES University of Texas at Austin - School of Law Texas Law Review, Vol. 83, No. 1 Abstract: Both law enforcement and markets for software standards have failed to solve the problem of software that is vulnerable to infection by network-transmitted worms. Consequently, regulatory attention should turn to the publishers of worm-vulnerable software. Although ordinary tort liability for software publishers may seem attractive, it would interact in unpredictable ways with the winner-take-all nature of competition among publishers of mass-market, internet-connected software. More tailored solutions are called for, including mandatory "bug bounties" for those who find potential vulnerabilities in software, minimum quality standards for software, and, once the underlying market failure is remedied, liability for end users who persist in using worm-vulnerable software. Keywords: Worms, viruses, software, market failure, network externality, negative externality, perverse incentives, tort liability, lemons equilibrium, regulation JEL Classifications: K29, K13, L86, 031 Accepted Paper Series Abstract has been viewed 392 times Contact Information for DOUGLAS BARNES (Contact Author) Email address for DOUGLAS BARNES University of Texas at Austin - School of Law 727 East Dean Keeton Street Austin , TX 78705 United States 512-689-1875 (Phone) Suggested Citation Barnes, Douglas A, "Deworming the Internet" . Texas Law Review, Vol. 83, No. 1 http://ssrn.com/abstract=622364 -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 9.0 (Build 1336) Beta - not licensed for commercial use: www.pgp.com iQEVAwUBQaTwysUCGwxmWcHhAQEAnAf5AQO9G8LuuKg1CFYHOnRflT68YX9w6xhp nt0csgWW0dxso9n7T1kMtGzZRDr/G5kdz+IVqHg2qjjzQajf7Ni50/mjRN48tJko vr3TeSWU4cX2yKTPJE56tc27uY534IHc5eBWxtprLagMIGfokNQeGZPT8S4OLzxL H/a9lTIQknHMtOA1HoRXodX252xn5II3AwLOZrC4gnap1R9mfkXOtdB6ChlXD11n hpN7g1A1CTkWE/74NiSEROJdk2oeJS2K0aks2dqMK59tI5KLteePpJGN8DfP0yUv 0HaFKUPFiS1yAzNtTj/J4VLog84Lofel6+rwaKIHCEXvB6nHvFN5SA== =xwLk -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- -- ----------------- R. A. Hettinga <mailto: rah@ibuc.com> The Internet Bearer Underwriting Corporation <http://www.ibuc.com/> 44 Farquhar Street, Boston, MA 02131 USA "... however it may deserve respect for its usefulness and antiquity, [predicting the end of the world] has not been found agreeable to experience." -- Edward Gibbon, 'Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire'