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Keeping a Weakness Secret


How to form a company in the US while keeping founder information private?Would the terminally ill Star Wars fan who was granted an early viewing of 'The Force Awakens' have been legally bound to keep the plot a secret?Is seed sharing/keeping/libraries illegal?Trade secret and NDA not signedowning firearms but keeping them out of stateWhat to do with Grandad's Top Secret documentsTheft of Trade Secret ProsecutionOpposing trademark registrationUnder what circumstances may companies require consumers to agree to secret terms?The order of operations for getting a trade secret document signed






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1















If a company invents a padlock with some obscure weakness that most
criminals would not guess, is there anything the company can do
(before or after selling it to the public, or within some "user
agreement" contract) to legally prevent people from publishing the
details of that weakness?



For example, this video exposed a weakness, thereby hurting all
owners of the padlock:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxM55DNS9CE



In principle, the company could now sue the video's owner for negligence,
but I doubt that the company would win, so I'm here asking if there is
anything the company could have done beforehand to improve its
chance of winning. Suppose the company and all customers are in
Los Angeles, California.










share|improve this question
























  • Possibly related: RDBMS companies like Oracle and Microsoft ban publication of performance tests without approval in their license agreements. stackoverflow.com/questions/12115397/…

    – mkennedy
    7 hours ago

















1















If a company invents a padlock with some obscure weakness that most
criminals would not guess, is there anything the company can do
(before or after selling it to the public, or within some "user
agreement" contract) to legally prevent people from publishing the
details of that weakness?



For example, this video exposed a weakness, thereby hurting all
owners of the padlock:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxM55DNS9CE



In principle, the company could now sue the video's owner for negligence,
but I doubt that the company would win, so I'm here asking if there is
anything the company could have done beforehand to improve its
chance of winning. Suppose the company and all customers are in
Los Angeles, California.










share|improve this question
























  • Possibly related: RDBMS companies like Oracle and Microsoft ban publication of performance tests without approval in their license agreements. stackoverflow.com/questions/12115397/…

    – mkennedy
    7 hours ago













1












1








1








If a company invents a padlock with some obscure weakness that most
criminals would not guess, is there anything the company can do
(before or after selling it to the public, or within some "user
agreement" contract) to legally prevent people from publishing the
details of that weakness?



For example, this video exposed a weakness, thereby hurting all
owners of the padlock:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxM55DNS9CE



In principle, the company could now sue the video's owner for negligence,
but I doubt that the company would win, so I'm here asking if there is
anything the company could have done beforehand to improve its
chance of winning. Suppose the company and all customers are in
Los Angeles, California.










share|improve this question














If a company invents a padlock with some obscure weakness that most
criminals would not guess, is there anything the company can do
(before or after selling it to the public, or within some "user
agreement" contract) to legally prevent people from publishing the
details of that weakness?



For example, this video exposed a weakness, thereby hurting all
owners of the padlock:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxM55DNS9CE



In principle, the company could now sue the video's owner for negligence,
but I doubt that the company would win, so I'm here asking if there is
anything the company could have done beforehand to improve its
chance of winning. Suppose the company and all customers are in
Los Angeles, California.







united-states contract-law california negligence






share|improve this question













share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










asked 8 hours ago









bobuhitobobuhito

3811 gold badge3 silver badges10 bronze badges




3811 gold badge3 silver badges10 bronze badges















  • Possibly related: RDBMS companies like Oracle and Microsoft ban publication of performance tests without approval in their license agreements. stackoverflow.com/questions/12115397/…

    – mkennedy
    7 hours ago

















  • Possibly related: RDBMS companies like Oracle and Microsoft ban publication of performance tests without approval in their license agreements. stackoverflow.com/questions/12115397/…

    – mkennedy
    7 hours ago
















Possibly related: RDBMS companies like Oracle and Microsoft ban publication of performance tests without approval in their license agreements. stackoverflow.com/questions/12115397/…

– mkennedy
7 hours ago





Possibly related: RDBMS companies like Oracle and Microsoft ban publication of performance tests without approval in their license agreements. stackoverflow.com/questions/12115397/…

– mkennedy
7 hours ago










1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes


















4














On the one hand, there are statutes that prohibit the delivery of instructions which distort or circumvent the official/intended use or safety of a device. For a somewhat related example of this, see MCL 750.540c(1)(3).



On the other hand, the company/manufacturer is unlikely to prevail under contract law no matter how clearly and conspicuously its EULA prohibits the disclosure of discovered weaknesses. That is because the prohibition in the EULA is outweighed by the severe vulnerability to which all other unsuspecting customers are subjected.



From the standpoint of public policy, people's awareness of the discovered vulnerability is certainly in the public's best interest. The disclosure will warn both (1) potential customers not to purchase a product that fails or misses its primary purpose, and (2) current customers to adopt precautions now that the product's reliability has been disproved. Thus, the effectiveness of broadcasting the discovery of such weakness is in stark contrast with the technical deficits and managerial politics that typically hinder a company's ability (or its will) to respond to the issue.



If the weakness was known to the manufacturer prior to the disclosure, the release of that product would constitute fraudulent misrepresentation. The details of the demonstration in the video supports the argument that the manufacturer knew --or should have known-- about that weakness, since a padlock design is supposed to pass all kinds of tests of breakability and not be disabled by a screwdriver.



It is hard to deny that the notion that "the padlock is secure" induces customers to purchase the product. As such, the misrepresentation violates the contract law principle that a contract --such as a purchase-- be entered knowingly. See Restatement (Second) of Contracts at § 161-167. With respect to the publisher of the weakness, that misrepresentation renders the EULA-prohibition void. See Restatement at § 164(1).



Regardless of whether or not the manufacturer incurred misrepresentation, the manufacturer's decision to sue the publisher is only likely to backfire by bringing more attention to the poor design of the product.



In all, the manufacturer's best option is to do a product recall ASAP and enhance the design.






share|improve this answer





























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    1 Answer
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    active

    oldest

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    active

    oldest

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    4














    On the one hand, there are statutes that prohibit the delivery of instructions which distort or circumvent the official/intended use or safety of a device. For a somewhat related example of this, see MCL 750.540c(1)(3).



    On the other hand, the company/manufacturer is unlikely to prevail under contract law no matter how clearly and conspicuously its EULA prohibits the disclosure of discovered weaknesses. That is because the prohibition in the EULA is outweighed by the severe vulnerability to which all other unsuspecting customers are subjected.



    From the standpoint of public policy, people's awareness of the discovered vulnerability is certainly in the public's best interest. The disclosure will warn both (1) potential customers not to purchase a product that fails or misses its primary purpose, and (2) current customers to adopt precautions now that the product's reliability has been disproved. Thus, the effectiveness of broadcasting the discovery of such weakness is in stark contrast with the technical deficits and managerial politics that typically hinder a company's ability (or its will) to respond to the issue.



    If the weakness was known to the manufacturer prior to the disclosure, the release of that product would constitute fraudulent misrepresentation. The details of the demonstration in the video supports the argument that the manufacturer knew --or should have known-- about that weakness, since a padlock design is supposed to pass all kinds of tests of breakability and not be disabled by a screwdriver.



    It is hard to deny that the notion that "the padlock is secure" induces customers to purchase the product. As such, the misrepresentation violates the contract law principle that a contract --such as a purchase-- be entered knowingly. See Restatement (Second) of Contracts at § 161-167. With respect to the publisher of the weakness, that misrepresentation renders the EULA-prohibition void. See Restatement at § 164(1).



    Regardless of whether or not the manufacturer incurred misrepresentation, the manufacturer's decision to sue the publisher is only likely to backfire by bringing more attention to the poor design of the product.



    In all, the manufacturer's best option is to do a product recall ASAP and enhance the design.






    share|improve this answer































      4














      On the one hand, there are statutes that prohibit the delivery of instructions which distort or circumvent the official/intended use or safety of a device. For a somewhat related example of this, see MCL 750.540c(1)(3).



      On the other hand, the company/manufacturer is unlikely to prevail under contract law no matter how clearly and conspicuously its EULA prohibits the disclosure of discovered weaknesses. That is because the prohibition in the EULA is outweighed by the severe vulnerability to which all other unsuspecting customers are subjected.



      From the standpoint of public policy, people's awareness of the discovered vulnerability is certainly in the public's best interest. The disclosure will warn both (1) potential customers not to purchase a product that fails or misses its primary purpose, and (2) current customers to adopt precautions now that the product's reliability has been disproved. Thus, the effectiveness of broadcasting the discovery of such weakness is in stark contrast with the technical deficits and managerial politics that typically hinder a company's ability (or its will) to respond to the issue.



      If the weakness was known to the manufacturer prior to the disclosure, the release of that product would constitute fraudulent misrepresentation. The details of the demonstration in the video supports the argument that the manufacturer knew --or should have known-- about that weakness, since a padlock design is supposed to pass all kinds of tests of breakability and not be disabled by a screwdriver.



      It is hard to deny that the notion that "the padlock is secure" induces customers to purchase the product. As such, the misrepresentation violates the contract law principle that a contract --such as a purchase-- be entered knowingly. See Restatement (Second) of Contracts at § 161-167. With respect to the publisher of the weakness, that misrepresentation renders the EULA-prohibition void. See Restatement at § 164(1).



      Regardless of whether or not the manufacturer incurred misrepresentation, the manufacturer's decision to sue the publisher is only likely to backfire by bringing more attention to the poor design of the product.



      In all, the manufacturer's best option is to do a product recall ASAP and enhance the design.






      share|improve this answer





























        4












        4








        4







        On the one hand, there are statutes that prohibit the delivery of instructions which distort or circumvent the official/intended use or safety of a device. For a somewhat related example of this, see MCL 750.540c(1)(3).



        On the other hand, the company/manufacturer is unlikely to prevail under contract law no matter how clearly and conspicuously its EULA prohibits the disclosure of discovered weaknesses. That is because the prohibition in the EULA is outweighed by the severe vulnerability to which all other unsuspecting customers are subjected.



        From the standpoint of public policy, people's awareness of the discovered vulnerability is certainly in the public's best interest. The disclosure will warn both (1) potential customers not to purchase a product that fails or misses its primary purpose, and (2) current customers to adopt precautions now that the product's reliability has been disproved. Thus, the effectiveness of broadcasting the discovery of such weakness is in stark contrast with the technical deficits and managerial politics that typically hinder a company's ability (or its will) to respond to the issue.



        If the weakness was known to the manufacturer prior to the disclosure, the release of that product would constitute fraudulent misrepresentation. The details of the demonstration in the video supports the argument that the manufacturer knew --or should have known-- about that weakness, since a padlock design is supposed to pass all kinds of tests of breakability and not be disabled by a screwdriver.



        It is hard to deny that the notion that "the padlock is secure" induces customers to purchase the product. As such, the misrepresentation violates the contract law principle that a contract --such as a purchase-- be entered knowingly. See Restatement (Second) of Contracts at § 161-167. With respect to the publisher of the weakness, that misrepresentation renders the EULA-prohibition void. See Restatement at § 164(1).



        Regardless of whether or not the manufacturer incurred misrepresentation, the manufacturer's decision to sue the publisher is only likely to backfire by bringing more attention to the poor design of the product.



        In all, the manufacturer's best option is to do a product recall ASAP and enhance the design.






        share|improve this answer















        On the one hand, there are statutes that prohibit the delivery of instructions which distort or circumvent the official/intended use or safety of a device. For a somewhat related example of this, see MCL 750.540c(1)(3).



        On the other hand, the company/manufacturer is unlikely to prevail under contract law no matter how clearly and conspicuously its EULA prohibits the disclosure of discovered weaknesses. That is because the prohibition in the EULA is outweighed by the severe vulnerability to which all other unsuspecting customers are subjected.



        From the standpoint of public policy, people's awareness of the discovered vulnerability is certainly in the public's best interest. The disclosure will warn both (1) potential customers not to purchase a product that fails or misses its primary purpose, and (2) current customers to adopt precautions now that the product's reliability has been disproved. Thus, the effectiveness of broadcasting the discovery of such weakness is in stark contrast with the technical deficits and managerial politics that typically hinder a company's ability (or its will) to respond to the issue.



        If the weakness was known to the manufacturer prior to the disclosure, the release of that product would constitute fraudulent misrepresentation. The details of the demonstration in the video supports the argument that the manufacturer knew --or should have known-- about that weakness, since a padlock design is supposed to pass all kinds of tests of breakability and not be disabled by a screwdriver.



        It is hard to deny that the notion that "the padlock is secure" induces customers to purchase the product. As such, the misrepresentation violates the contract law principle that a contract --such as a purchase-- be entered knowingly. See Restatement (Second) of Contracts at § 161-167. With respect to the publisher of the weakness, that misrepresentation renders the EULA-prohibition void. See Restatement at § 164(1).



        Regardless of whether or not the manufacturer incurred misrepresentation, the manufacturer's decision to sue the publisher is only likely to backfire by bringing more attention to the poor design of the product.



        In all, the manufacturer's best option is to do a product recall ASAP and enhance the design.







        share|improve this answer














        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer








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