Re: Ethical Database Practice?

"LB" <lorilynnb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote

I want to have the upgrade send me an email
silently whenever a user upgrades. . . . Now,
I am independent so there's no boss, and I'm
remote. I want to have the email sent to me
BUT I don't really want to tell the clients before-
hand, because I don't want them to feel that I'm
"babysitting" them; it's just for my own
information, as this factor will become important
when troubleshooting. These clients are
management-level and very busy.

Ethics aside, what you propose is likely to lead you into a severe customer
relations problem.

You'd better tell them in advance that you need to have on record the update
level of your clients, and that you have included an e-mail back to you on
successful installation of updates _with an option for them to opt out_!

If some software tried to "call home silently," I'd immediately wonder why.
If I had been warned, and had the ability to opt out, I might or might not
agree to let it "call home" but you wouldn't have a "suspicious customer".



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