Giant Robot Imprisons Parked Cars

Giant Robot Imprisons Parked Cars Yes, that is the title of the news story. I had so much hope when I read the headline, some Japanese robot going crazy and holding cars hostage until it received an extra helping of oil a day, with only Godzilla to save us all. A DoD robot threatening a parking lot unless him and the VW beetle he is in love with can just be left alone. And the world finding world peace between their international yet forbiddden love. But sadly not. It is a fight between a software company (Robotic Parking) and a local government (Hoboken, NJ). Basically, the government decided to quit paying the software company for the license to use the software. So the software stopped working when the old license wore off. I agree with this 100%. The software company needs someway to protect itself from non-payment. It was in the contract, it is not the software companies fault that it was simple, greedy, government-educated, elected people who signed the contract on behalf of the city. The problem I DO have here is there was no "one-way valve", so to speak. The software affected more than just the software company and the local government. It affected those who parked their vehicles there. They had no dog in this fight, yet they were punished when their vehicles where not allowed to leave. The individuals should have been able to retreive their cars, just not park anymore. This would allow the customers a way out, but would halt revenue to the government (the only good way to get their attention). For that I think both the government and the software company should be taken to task.