[net.legal] Applicable law...

mark@umcp-cs.UUCP (07/03/84)

I have been recently been involved with a couple of software license
agreements (Berkeley's and AT&T's) in which there is an applicable law
clause.  These clauses read something like this:  "This contract
shall be governed by the law of the State of Maryland."

In both license agreements, the State of Maryland (us) wanted the
clause changed to refer to the laws of Maryland.  In both cases
the other entity refused to do this, but agreed to crossing out
the clause completely.

What is going on here?  I can see the reason for the clause, simply
for definiteness in case of disputes, but what does it mean if
it is not present, and why is everyone so willing to cross it out?

-- 
Spoken: Mark Weiser 	ARPA:	mark@maryland
CSNet:	mark@umcp-cs 	UUCP:	{seismo,allegra}!umcp-cs!mark