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A Model End Vendor License Agreement
Teese writes "Low End Mac is presenting this article as a humor piece, but its vision of an End Vendor License Agreement seems to be pretty well thought out, and one that I wouldn't mind seeing in the real world."
Kinda has a ring to it, but is this practical? I don't see anything like this ever working, but maybe vendors could change the way their EULAs are written.
You should use AdiumX on your Mac.
Not only is this a pretty neat idea that would be great for the consumer, but how nice would it also be to have a EULA that was about the same length? I don't know many people who can actually read an entire Microsoft EULA without going insane. Many good books are shorter than a Mircrosoft EULA.
those people who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do. -isaac asimov
We need a Better Business Bureau like association for EULA's. Where software companies can get their software certified and then being able to display a seal of approval on the packaging by having their EULA user friendly. There could be different levels of friendliness and reviews on software that didn't want to apply for certification.
I've actually heard of people doing something like this by writing on the back of a check something to the effect of "By endorsing or cashing this check, you agree to the following conditions...."
Not all the different from the $2-$5 checks that periodically come in the mail, which by cashing sign you up for some stupid, inanen service that nearly no one actually needs...
Libertarianism is rich wolves and poor sheep playing gambler's ruin for dinner.
I've actually considered offering access to some of my software on that kind of basis. You give me the required amount when you start using it and get your money back when you stop using it but I get to collect interest on the money while it's in my hands. The software tracks digital money across different websites I made. You can buy/sell stuff in my EBay type site, buy stuff from me, play games, etc paying with digital money but can cash out if you want (but again with me keeping the interest). The main benefit would actually be that there would be far fewer fees involved (as PayPal, credit card processing, etc are somewhat expensive) and rather than charging fees to support the site I'd be able to just use the interest on the money I'm holding. Maybe a fee if you cashed out sooner than 60 days after buying the digital money.. to stop wanks from doing it 20 times a day.
At what price learning? At what cost wisdom? The price is a man's peace of mind, and the cost is his life.
11. If I uninstall a piece of software, the uninstall program must NOT require the original install disk.
12. When installing your software you MUST NOT put shortcuts for AOL, Real Player, or Gator on my task tray, quick launch toolbar, start menu, desktop or startup folder.
bite my glorious golden ass.
Would this be possible? Feasible? Ok prolly not but still, it'd be cool.
Aw crap, sorry about that; I forgot to put in the paragraph tags. My post should read:
n+1. Seeing that I paid for this software, I shall use it as I see fit. There are to be no restrictions on use.
n+2. I may reverse engineer anything I damn well please to make your product interact properly with another, or to get around your DRM restricting my legitimate use.
n+3. My desktop, quick launch bar, the top of my Start menu, my StartUp menu, my NT services, and the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Run key are sacred. Your installer will not put anything in any of these locations without my express permission, and by default it won't touch them.
n+4. I will choose exactly which icons are installed on my Start menu, and where. You are not to make yourself a program group (or FIVE in the case of Epson) and dump icons for your program, EULA, website, help file, and uninstaller in it. I'm tired of cleaning up after program installs.
n+5. Your EULA shall NOT change when I install bug fixes, ESPECIALLY security updates.
n+6. You may ask me to register, but I may choose not to and still receive all the benefits of your software.
n+7. Shrink-wrap licenses are hereby banned. Any EULA must be printed on the front of the box. If it doesn't fit in a reasonably-sized typeface, shorten it until it does.
n+8. Your uninstaller must work properly.
n+9. Ads are forbidden in paid-for software; spyware is forbidden in ALL software, including free downloads. If Ad-Aware catches anything after I install your software, you owe me $500, plus the cost of your software.
n+10. No crippleware. For instance, DVD-playing software must ignore user operation prohibition on DVDs, play DVDs from all regions, and be able to copy the DVD to the hard drive.
n+11. I may review your product either positively or negatively without asking permission.
n+12. DRM is hereby banned. It will be cracked anyway and cracked copies will be all over the Internet eventually, likely even before your software is released. Only the honest people will pay, DRM or not, but DRM hurts everyone.
Okay, that was long-winded, but I feel better now.
It's an operating system, not a religion.
I shall continue to use the software based on the rights granted to me by the fair use provisions and the first sale doctrine.
Should you desire to have the software returned, I am willing to sell my copy back, at the price I paid for it (plus $100 for shipping and handling), but only if you do not try impose any more terms and conditions on this return sale.
This offer is valid for a 7 days. If I do not hear from you in that time, you have implicitly and irrevocably accepted my purchase of the software, non-acceptance of your EULA, and my fair use rights to it.
Yours sincerely
...
P.S. non-disclaimer: Since you have not paid for me to sign a non-disclosure agreement, I reserve the right to publish what ever you send me.
In Murphy We Turst