Computer Law Commons^™

Walking From Cloud To Cloud: The Portability Issue In Cloud Computing, Robert H. Carpenter Jr.

Washington Journal of Law, Technology & Arts

Cloud computing has become popular among businesses that see information technology as outside their core competencies, demand a highly flexible computing environment, and seek to achieve more predictable costs. In some ways, cloud computing resembles IT outsourcing arrangements used in the financial services industry for many years; therefore lessons from financial services IT outsourcing agreements may prove helpful to parties interested in adopting cloud computing. This article considers the use of “data hostage” clauses in combination with arbitration or litigation clauses by service providers and the problems these clauses can cause outsourcing businesses. These two clauses together can insulate service …