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Texas Business & Commerce Code - Section 48.053. Unauthorized Interference With Installation Or Disabling Of Computer Software

Legal Research Home > Texas Lawyer > Business & Commerce Code > Texas Business & Commerce Code - Section 48.053. Unauthorized Interference With Installation Or Disabling Of Computer Software

§ 48.053. UNAUTHORIZED INTERFERENCE WITH INSTALLATION OR 
DISABLING OF COMPUTER SOFTWARE.  If a person is not the owner or 
operator of the computer, the person may not knowingly cause 
computer software to be copied to a computer in this state and use 
the software to:
		(1)  prevent, through intentionally deceptive means, 
reasonable efforts of the owner or operator of the computer to block 
the installation or execution of or to disable computer software by 
causing computer software that the owner or operator has properly 
removed or disabled to automatically reinstall or reactivate on the 
computer;
		(2)  intentionally misrepresent to another that 
computer software will be uninstalled or disabled by the actions of 
the owner or operator of the computer;
		(3)  remove, disable, or render inoperative, through 
intentionally deceptive means, security, antispyware, or antivirus 
computer software installed on the computer;
		(4)  prevent the owner's or operator's reasonable 
efforts to block the installation of or to disable computer 
software by:
			(A)  presenting the owner or operator with an 
option to decline the installation of software knowing that, when 
the option is selected, the installation process will continue to 
proceed;  or
			(B)  misrepresenting that software has been 
disabled;                      
		(5)  change the name, location, or other designation of 
computer software to prevent the owner from locating and removing 
the software;  or
		(6)  create randomized or intentionally deceptive file 
names or random or intentionally deceptive directory folders, 
formats, or registry entries to avoid detection and prevent the 
owner from removing computer software.

Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., ch. 298, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2005.           

Last modified: August 10, 2007