Al_B on 12/3/2012 at 00:03
Quote Posted by Sg3
I am, literally speaking, the only person I know who actually reads E.U.L.A.s.
I'm impressed - because I reached my fill of useless legal rhetoric years ago (and not just from EULAs). I'm being totally sincere about this and not just trolling. Out of interest, which EULAs did you disagree with enough after reading them to contest or return the software?
Sg3 on 12/3/2012 at 04:56
I've never had the resources to contest anything, but I do routinely refuse to install things if the EULA goes too far. Mostly free programs (Ventrilo being the most notable of these, for its "$5000 clause"), but I did quit using one of my bought games after they retroactively changed the EULA to something more draconian. Or, more accurately, after they sold the service (which was allowed in the original EULA) to a new entity, which then put in their own new EULA.
I fully realize the futility of a one-man crusade, and that it is thus useless for me to read these wretched things. But, if I refuse to read them because they're a tiresome pain, then I've completely given in to them and thus am part of the problem. I can't be part of the solution, because there isn't one, but I can still try to not be part of the problem.
henke on 13/3/2012 at 08:08
You should start a website, or even a blog, where you post your thoughts on different EULA's. "Sg3 reads EULA's" it could be called. You could just jot down the gist of them, and point out the more outrageous points. Not joking, I think it could make for a quite popular site. I'm sure I'm not the only lazy bastard who'd like to know what he's agreeing to but can't actually be bothered reading the whole thing.
june gloom on 13/3/2012 at 10:06
Yeah, I'd read that. EULAs can get really weird but nobody really knows the depths of their depravity because nobody reads 'em!
What was the game, by the way? I'm supposing an MMO?
Yakoob on 13/3/2012 at 19:39
Quote Posted by henke
You should start a website, or even a blog, where you post your thoughts on different EULA's. "Sg3 reads EULA's" it could be called. You could just jot down the gist of them, and point out the more outrageous points. Not joking, I think it could make for a quite popular site. I'm sure I'm not the only lazy bastard who'd like to know what he's agreeing to but can't actually be bothered reading the whole thing.
at first I thought it was gonna be a snide joke, but as I kept reading I we nodding. Something simple like ireadeulas.com or gamingeulas.com where you can sum em up for the lazy or just have a simple "green light" or "red flag" type ratings for games; this could really work. actually, I am a web designer, if anyone is interested in providing the content, hit me up, I'll take care of the rest...
Shug on 13/3/2012 at 22:11
I vote for dramatic readings
Al_B on 13/3/2012 at 22:53
"Eulagies for the damned"
Sg3 on 15/3/2012 at 07:55
Quote Posted by henke
You should start a website, or even a blog, where you post your thoughts on different EULA's. "Sg3 reads EULA's" it could be called. You could just jot down the gist of them, and point out the more outrageous points. Not joking, I think it could make for a quite popular site. I'm sure I'm not the only lazy bastard who'd like to know what he's agreeing to but can't actually be bothered reading the whole thing.
Interesting idea. Maybe someday when I have no research projects, I'll do it. Right now, I'm already putting off purchasing games for weeks or months because I C.B.A. to read up on their privacy policies, copy protection, et al. My research for college, along with my difficulties with my health, are wholly sapping my energy, and so I have little time & energy for doing that sort of thing in my free time.
But, as a sample, the Ventrilo 3.0 EULA had two particularly neat little clauses. One said (approximate wording): "If you breach any part of this agreement, you agree that you have done irreparable damage to Flagship Industries and agree to pay Flagship the amount of $5000 U.S." The second clause was (paraphrased): "You agree to immediately download and install any updates to Ventrilo as soon as they are released by Flagship Industries. Failure to immediately download an update constitutes a breach of this agreement."
The first part is bad enough, but taken together, these two clauses effectively mean that all current Ventrilo users have "agreed" to pay five thousand dollars if they don't install an update to Ventrilo the moment it is released on the Ventrilo website. Cute, huh?
The actual enforceability, and even the legality, of all this is debatable (I'll leave that to RBJ, if he feels so inclined), but regardless of whether or not various courts will uphold or be influenced by these "agreements," the sentiment alone is alarming to me. The trend I've seen in the gradual worsening of these documents over the last decade and a half is even more so. (I started P.C. gaming back when there were no EULAs.)
Quote Posted by dethtoll
What was the game, by the way? I'm supposing an MMO?
No, it was
Demigod. Ironically, the offending company was Stardock, which had issued the (completely rhetorical and ultimately meaningless) "Gamer's Bill of Rights."
Demigod required Stardock's Impulse service (a Steam clone) to install. Impulse originally had an relatively decent* EULA, but Stardock sold Impulse to Gamestop, which then changed it to the now-standard "you have no rights and we own you" one.
* Well, it appeared to be decent, but since it evidently allowed the retroactive changing of the EULA by a third party ...
Quote Posted by Al_B
"Eulagies for the damned"
Heh-heh. Clever.
Quote Posted by Shug
I vote for dramatic readings
I love you, TTLG.
