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Microsoft Backs Down on Windows 2000 EULA
nachoboy writes "After the fiasco surrounding the overly intrusive EULA for Windows 2000 SP3, it seems Microsoft has backed down a bit with the upcoming release of SP4. The section concerning automatic updates now states simply "You consent to the operation of these features, unless you choose to switch them off or not use them." The EULA then proceeds to list the five services liable to connect to the internet without explicit confirmation. A reference copy of the SP4 EULA may be found here. We can only hope for a similar move with Windows XP."
No kidding. It's ridiculous that I have not been able to apply a service pack with security fixes because the license differs from the OS such that it imposes untenable terms.
Trouble making decisions? Just flip for it.
They are backing down on the "All Your Base Are Belong To Us" EULA. Good. I'm impressed. This means that I can actually update my last lone Windows box. Right now, basically I have my Windows machine isolated from the Internet because of the security issues.
I still think that eventually MS will have to come out and admit that there are fundamental flaws at the heart of their security infrastructure, and basically make the same admission they made about NT4 about all their NT codebase OSes. But it's good that the patches are now available without having to bend and spread too far.
Someone mentioned the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in another post. I suspect that is the motivation behind the EULA change. With all those health insurance companies, doctors offices and hospitals screaming bloody murder about SP3 leaving them open for citation under HIPAA, they had to do this.
Certainly consumer outrage isn't the issue. That has never motivated MS before.
Knowledge is power. Knowledge shared is power multiplied.
Posted this as Karhgath previously as an error. Sorry.
I don't think you understand Microsoft's tactic. They ALWAYS did the same thing:
1) Start with something free or an upgrade.
2) Incrementally and slowly add more and more restrictive claims. Auto-update, DRM, etc.
3) If the people start complaining too much, roll-back to previous claims, which isn't much better.
4) Wait for a while.
5) Go to 2.
This has been MS tactics for as long as I can remember. So, I don't think we should claim victory right now.
(Hey, it's already up to score 10, why not 15, mods?) (Disclaimer for the clueless: okay, I copied and pasted this and it's not mine.)