Fighting Back Against EULAs

An anonymous reader writes: "Fed up with increasingly obnoxious click-through "agreements" embedded in the retail software I buy, I've posted a very simple script to remove them before clicking "I agree". Without the EULA, I am free to use my software within the bounds of copyright law. Courts have been very inconsistent on the enforceability of EULAs, and I hope this will strengthen consumers' side of the battle. The script is a symbolic gesture as much as anything else, and I want to get people thinking about how ridiculous it is that software companies try to force these one-sided contracts on you after you have paid for something. Also worth a look is cexx.org's Software Vendor License Agreement, which reverses the typical EULA and puts the burden back on the software manufacturer where it belongs."

Comments

Re:Yay!

[K.]

It's not a law doofus. That's the point.

Lets have fun with EULAs...

[Xunker]

I'm going to write some fantastic whizz-bang piece of software just for the pleasure of writting a EULA with a clause that goes "The lisencee of this product must wear a gorilla suit while using said product. Upon violation of this clause, the lisencee agrees to send the author Five (5) kiliograms of Reeses-Pieces(TM) Brand Peanutbutter candies."

Re:Just a thought.

[drDugan]

I purchased a shrink wrap machine years
ago. sits out in my garage. I've never
had to worry about returning anything in
a plastic wrapped box!

Textarea

[red5]

My favroit EULA have alwase been the ones used in online forms. Where they put the EULA in a .
I remove all the text and replace it with "I AGREE TO NOTHING".
Is this still legaly binding?

Crossing your fingers means you don't promise

[JimmytheGeek]

By long-standing common law precedent, if you cross your fingers while you click, you don't have to abide by the terms. If you feel like going the extra mile, you can tell the dialogue box in person that you don't accept some or all of the provisions.

Re:Crossing your fingers means you don't promise

[Anonymous Coward]

I simply leave a post-it (tm) note centered on my screen. It says "I ROCK!!!".

Every once in a while, a dialog box appears with buttons like "I Agree" and "Cancel" at the bottom.

I always click "I Agree" cuz I definitely ROCK!!!

Hot steam

[BlueUnderwear]

Remember those little stickers on the CD-ROM pouches?

No problem: use hot steam to melt the glue and gently detach them, rather then "breaking" (i.e. tearing) them. Or just cut through the pouch at the other end, and take the CD out from the rear without "breaking the seal".

Then keep the intact "seal" on file along with all the other license documentation, as proof that you did not agree ;-)

Does it have to be hot steam?

[SIGFPE]

Or would luke-warm, or even cold steam do the trick?

Re:"Symbolic" gesture indeed

[liquidsin]

I betcha there's an EULA on any free software you use as well. Maybe not as nefarious as KaZaA's "all your network resource are belong to us", but something along the lines of having to redistribute code changes, or whatever clauses for it's flavour of gpl/bsd/lgpl/whatever.

Re:Great idea!

[shawnmelliott]

You insensitive PIG
Are you my wife? Sounds like my wife's online

How dare you assume that we're all in your time zone!
There are others?

You're so timezone-centric
hey, no 50 dollar words here. I can barely spell kat

People on Slashdot have got to start being more global
How's this?
Global SlashDotPeople as long

I'm sick of everyone posting things only about YOUR timezone
Other people are posting about MY timezone? Then I guess I can assume you're all in MY timezone

Bastard!
So THAT'S why my momma won't tell me about my daddy

Re:You broke it already...

[infinite9]

You have already agreed to read the agreement

Can we just agree to disagree with the agreement?

Re:Great idea!

[Kierthos]

Microsoft reccomends their software to millions of people. And based on the many BSODs I (and my customers get) it sure as Hell(tm) wasn't tested very much.

Kierthos

Virus !, lol,,,,,,take that MS !

[CDWert]

Someone needs to roll this script in a VIRUS scanner. So whenever the app gets on the machine it gets scanned and flagged as a virus, with the FIX option then removing the EULA.

MS calls the GPL liscence Viral , Hell they started calling names first, if you wrap this in a Virus scanner and get hauled into court , the judge ask "why you felt your prodect could remove the EULA" look you honor at all these press clippings calling the GPL if the GPL can be viral so can the MS EULA, and Hence I can remove it :)

A much easier way around it

[rossz]

I have my 11 year old daughter install software. I have not given her permission to enter into a binding contract.

Re:A much easier way around it

[Andy_R]

Careful, you are now legally prohibited by the DMCA from creating any countermeasures to software protection, so you had better get some contraceptives right away or you could end up going to jail.

The beauty and subtle grace of vb syntax

[Anonymous Coward]

Escapes me yet again.

Best solution of all here

[goldfndr]

I have my pet rock hit the keys. I just hope they never throw it in jail.