If You Read The EULA, You'd Never Agree To It
from the better-off-not-reading-it dept
We’ve already established that almost no one reads end user license agreements after one company put into their’s a promise to pay $1,000 to the first person who asked — and it took four months for someone to notice. However, perhaps it’s like making sausage — where you’d never agree to an EULA if you knew what it was you were agreeing to. Slashdot points to an article where various EULAs have been dissected for your reading horror as you realize just how much of your soul you’ve sold to load some programs you probably already have.
Comments on “If You Read The EULA, You'd Never Agree To It”
eula
How can these things be enforced?
Doesen’t the very word “agreement” suggest eula are acceptable to both parties.
This would be fine, but you don’t even get to see the agreement until you have bought non-refundable software.
What if I install software for my mom, and she never sees the EULA, how can she be held responsible?
100% rubbish
I don’t care what they put into the EULA. I don’t agree to any of it and I very much doubt any court would take it seriously. It’s pure FUD.
EULA's blow
Maybe if they were written in plain english (or whatever language), or at least had a “cliff notes” version so you can easily see exactly what your agreeing to, they might be useful. I can’t see how any of it can be enforcable.
For example, the MS EULA that states they aren’t at fault if the software craps out and your business loses money. If they advertise their products as being useful for your business, how can they turn around and say they aren’t responsible for damages when you use it exactly as they say? That sounds more like a breach of contract.
Re: 30 PAGE EULA's blow
Scenario without a solution?
Perhaps I purchased the latest version of X software from a local retailer. Brought it home and read the short booklet detailing it’s features and what keys to press to make it do said-task. Now it’s time to make the installation and during that install, the EULA states a point (or several) that I do NOT agree with.
Who do I return that software to? The local retailer whom I’ve purchased that program from, will not accept it back as a return because the package has been open — suspecting that I had pirated the software. The manufacturer will not accept the product back, since they are not the direct source which I purchased through….
Now i get stuck with a program (that cost on average $59 – $299) that I dint agree with there “Installation EULA”.
I would like to see some of EULA posted on the outside of the box, so I can review it before making my purchase.
But seeing as how some of the EULA are 10, 20 or even 30 pages long — WE KNOW THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
Just like clicking “that link” on the internet… Or purchasing that “undesirable” CD for $19.95 from the music shop… we are now faced with yet another “GRAB-BAG” / “TAKE THE RISK OF WASTING YOUR CASH” on an EULA… Hidden, until only after you have past the point of “”No Return”” by opening the shrink-wrapped package and placing the CD into your computer.
It's OK
I don’t read EULA’s, but it’s ok. I don’t follow what they say in them either. I’m going to do whatever I feel like doing with the software anyway.