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MS FrontPage Restricts Free Speech II (It's True!)

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the on-and-on-and-on dept.

A mild controvery occured yesterday in a story claiming Microsoft prohibits anti-ms speech if you use Frontpage. Here is a followup submitted by Reyacta from the original author: "Several readers have told me their EULA for FrontPage 2002 does not contain the no-disparaging-MS term, or that the term only applies to the FrontPage logo or to the Web components like the MSNBC news headline component. Just to be sure, this afternoon I went down to the store and bought a copy of FrontPage 2002 myself. In the box was the "Microsoft Frontpage 2002" license on a four-page folded sheet, titled "End- User License Agreement For Microsoft Software." Under Section #1, Grant of License, the second paragraph headed "Restrictions" states in part: "You may not use the Software in connection with any site that disparages Microsoft, MSN, MSNBC, Expedia, or their products or services, infringe any intellectual property or other rights of these parties, violate any state, federal or international law, or promote racism, hatred or pornography." (Not only a stunning example of legal overreaching, in my opinion, but very poor grammar as well.) It appears to me to clearly apply to use of the program as a whole and not just the logo or Web components. I suspect that there are different versions of the EULA of FrontPage 2002. Perhaps the license was updated for the most recent SKU, or versions obtained through different channels don't yet have it. I'm going to try to get Microsoft to clarify where this EULA does and doesn't appear, but I'm not sure they will be very anxious to provide me with that information. Reply to Ed Foster."

4 of 763 comments (clear)

  1. Huh. by BillyGoatThree · · Score: 3, Redundant

    So Microsoft is monopolisitic and overbearing.

    Whoda thunk it?

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    324006
  2. Re:CmdrtTaco complaining... by he-sk · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Then you should have looked closer, as it isn't Taco who's complaining, but Reycata probably quoting the original author Ed Foster.

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    Free Manning, jail Obama.
  3. Great marketing move! by cyberdonny · · Score: 4, Redundant

    Just make an outrageous EULA, and the geeks will flock to by your product to check with their own eyes that the EULA is indeed as outrageous as the rumors says it is...

  4. Re:CmdrtTaco complaining... by hylander_sb · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Dude, that wasn't Cmdr Taco complaining.

    cut from the article -

    Here is a followup submitted by Reyacta from the original author

    Sheesh. If you're going to bash, be right.

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    Stop the use of force!