Y2K@UB

What are the possible legal ramifications of Y2K problems and how can they be avoided?

Readiness disclosure statements should be included on all Y2K status reports, internal memos, Web sites and replies to vendors, business partners and others.

A full copy of the federal legislation, Year 2000 Readiness Disclosure Act (Public Law 105-271), is available at http://www.y2k.com/legalpage.htm.

Frequently asked questions on Y2K legal issues are addressed at http://www.y2k.com/legalfaq.htm. Enacted and proposed legislation at federal and state levels relating to Y2K is available at http://www.2000law.com/html/legislation.html. Other legal links are the Year 2000 Law Center www.year2000.com/lawcenter/Nflawcenter.html; Duke University Legal Links http://www.oit.duke.edu/docs/y2k/y2k-legalresources.html, and Texas A&M University Legal Links http://www.tamu.edu/cis/teams/yr2k/links_legal.html.

In the event that litigation does arise relating to Y2K, you will need to provide evidence that reasonable efforts were made to try to resolve Y2K issues. For that reason, all documentation showing how Y2K issues were addressed for your area should be retained. Documentation should include the Y2K plan, inventory and assessment, test plans and results, contingency plans and other relevant information. See the Y2K Compliance Steps-and other information, as well as useful links-on UB's Web site at http://wings.buffalo.edu/year2000.

And don't forget the Y2K Issues and Solutions Workshop, to be held from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday in 120 Clemens. Designed for the general user, presentations will focus on Y2K compliance for specific hardware and software products, as well as on Y2K utility programs, general information and great Y2K links.

If you have Y2K questions that you would like answered in this column, email them to y2k-questions@acsu.buffalo.edu.