Year 2000 Computer Crisis: Law, Business, Technology [Ring-bound]

Warren S. Reid (Author), Michael D. Scott (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1998

A unique new book that addresses for the first time all of t he critical legal, business and technical issues facing companies in their struggle to deal with the year 2000 issue: The Year 2000 Computer Crisis: The Law, Business, and Technology is co-authored by Michael D. Scott, a well-known technology lawyer, and Warren S. Reid, a Year 2000 systems consultant authority. The authors have put together in one place a thoughtful analysis of virtually all of the legal questions associated with the Year 2000 issue, including dealing with the claims and lawsuits that will likely be filed. In fact, this is the only publication to integrate all of the critical legal, business and technical issues facing companies in their struggle to deal with the Y2K crisis. The book is useful to both lawyers and non-lawyers, with or without technical experience, and provides a roadmap of the steps a company must take to insure that it uncovers and addresses all Year 2000 problems in a timely and thorough manner.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'A masterful compilation of practical information and insight' -- Stephen J. Davidson, Esq., Leonard, Street and Deinard, former President, Computer Law Association

About the Author

Top Authorities on Y2K Issues

Michael D. Scott is a partner at Hosie Wes Sacks & Brelsford, Menlo Park, CA.

Mr. Scott has been practicing high-technology law for over two decades and represents a variety of computer, software, traditional media, multimedia and Internet-related companies. He was formerly general counsel for an international multimedia developer and a partner at Graham & James. He is also Editor-in-Chief of Cyberspace Lawyer (Glasser LegalWorks) and author of several books.

Warren S. Reid is Founder and Managing Director of WSR Consulting Group, LLC, Encino, CA.

Mr. Reid acts as a litigation strategist, an expert witness, and a special master in complex computer litigation matters. He has given his opinions in court cases regarding large-scale computer system failures involving some of the largest users and computer/services companies in the world. He has managed, tested and accepted complex systems development and installation projects. Mr. Reid's firm specializes in manag

Product Details

• Ring-bound: 756 pages
• Publisher: Glasser Legalworks; w/ Updated Supplement edition (December 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1888075821
• ISBN-13: 978-1888075823
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,569,768 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Better get it fast..., June 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Year 2000 Computer Crisis: Law, Business, Technology (Ring-bound)

Review from Legal Information ALERT, page 12, April 1999, Vol. 18, No. 4. Reviewed by Lisa Mecklenberg, Electronic Services Librarian, State Law Library of Montana, Helena, MT INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY The Year 2000 Computer Crisis: Law, Business, Technology. The Year 2000 is fast approaching. Will you and your computers be prepared? The authors of this timely book offer to help you answer that question by organizing their text in a logical, straightforward fashion. The book includes seven chapters, followed by a forms section, appendixes, a glossary, a bibliography, and an index. The first chapter serves as an introduction to the technical issues involved in creating a Y2K plan, with subsequent chapters focusing on developing this plan, audits, the Y2K implementation process, contracts, Y2K litigation, and insurance. The fact that the intended audience is lawyers highlights one of its strengths. By focusing on the legal aspects of Y2K, Scott and Reid steer attorneys toward the production of appropriate contacts, warranties, remedies, and performance standards. They also suggest ways to protect directors, officers, and companies from lawsuits involving Y2K issues. To that end, the forms section is very good, featuring "Sample Year 2000 Compliance Agreements," a "Sample Complaint for Year 2000 Failures," and both hardware and software inventory forms. Chapter 5, on contracts, contains helpful advice on various Y2K agreements, including license agreements, supplier agreements, and Year 2000 consulting/remediation agreements. Scott and Reid also address the availability of insurance coverage for Y2K liability, as well as strategies, claims, and defenses that will be used by parties in Y2K litigation. Both authors have a significant amount of practical experience in this area -Scott has 20 years of experience representing a number of computer and software companies and Reid has served as a litigation strategist, an expert witness, and a special master in complex computer trial matters. Issued in looseleaf format, The Year 200 Computer Crisis permits periodic updates as new Y2K developments occur -it includes a December 1998 update that expands the book by more than 200 pages. A noteworthy feature is a series of checklists (i.e., awareness, assessment, implementation) to assist in the process of making a firm or business Y2K ready that are easy to follow and understand. The appendixes are also quiet useful, as several groups that have implemented the Y2K preparation procedures outlined in the book are profiled. These include "A Year 2000 Preliminary Analysis Report" prepared for the State of Rhode Island and a Technical Note from the Federal Reserve Board on "Testing Personal Computers for Year 2000 Compatibility." There is also a helpful list of Year 2000 web sites. For those looking for a "hands-on," planning-to-take-care-of-the-office-crisis-yourself guide to Y2K, this book may be frustrating, as it doesn't offer a nuts and bolts approach to making computers crisis-ready. For those, however, who would like a comprehensive overview of the Y2K phenomenon and guidelines on how to proceed with the handling of Y2K problems for clients, this book would be valuable. However, you better get it fast -many of the implementation procedures for addressing Y2K problems should already have been initiated. It is also highly recommended for law firms, which may actually have to litigate Y2K issues.

5.0 out of 5 stars An enormously valuable tool to anyone assessing Y2K issues.., April 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Year 2000 Computer Crisis: Law, Business, Technology (Ring-bound)

I was extremely impressed with the scope and quality of the book. Warren Reid is the most knowledgeable person I know with respect to the technical and practical business aspects of the Year 2000 problem and his willingness to share his extensive experience and practical wisdom makes this book an enormously valuable tool to anyone assessing Y2K issues. Mike Scott has already established himself as one of the world's leading authorities on computer-related legal issues. By drawing on his many years of experience with the computer and multimedia industries, Mike provides legal and practical insights into the Y2K legal issues that every lawyer involved in the Y2K maelstrom will find extremely helpful. ...Congratulations on publishing such a timely and useful work.

5.0 out of 5 stars Entering the year 2000 is not going to be good for computers, February 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Year 2000 Computer Crisis: Law, Business, Technology (Ring-bound)

I think when the year 2000 comes all tax payers are going to have to pay for the upage on the computers and I myself don't think that would be a good idea because they are going to raise a big arguement and lead to a bad fight against the upage on this Y2K deal. It will go before a grand jury and loose the battle, then people will be mad.