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Man Finds $1,000 Prize in EULA

Posted by samzenpus on from the read-the-fine-print dept.

bhtooefr writes "When Doug Heckman was installing a PC Pitstop program, he actually read the EULA. In it, he found a clause stating that he could get financial compensation if he e-mailed PC Pitstop. The result: a $1,000 check, and proof that people don't read EULAs (3,000 people before him didn't notice it). The goal of this was to prove that one should read all EULAs, so that one can see if an app is spyware if it is buried in the EULA."

12 of 446 comments (clear)

  1. Re:$1,000 for reading all the way through EULAs? by ackthpt · · Score: 5, Interesting
    However a good rule of thumb is that if you cant understand the EULA, dont agree to it. I mean would you sign somthing you didn't understand?

    Like pretty much everyone else, if I took the time to read them all the way through and understand them then I wouldn't have time to use the product.

    The only long documents I make sure I read and understand are the ones doctors give me before performing some test, like MRI or such. Hate to think I may have a staple or something and have one of those things turn my guts to hamburger because I didn't take time to understand fully the procedure and it's risks. Besides, you usually have lots of extra time in a waiting room, assuming you didn't arrive via Emergency Entrance.

    --

    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  2. Re:Reading every EULA? by Xzzy · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Most of 'em are text files stuck somewhere. Just grep them for phone numbers, email addresses, and if you're feeling clever, mailing addresses. ;)

  3. A standard set of EULAs by osewa77 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Nobody needs to read a GPL license more than once; why can't we have standard comercial agreements? What we need is a standard set of EULAs for different types of software with coded variations ("basic closed source EULA with XXX clause").

  4. Re:$1,000 for reading all the way through EULAs? by fimbulvetr · · Score: 3, Interesting

    That's just it, TFA points out how it's _not_ just a bunch of gobbledy-gook and mumbo jumbo. To demonstrate, it gives the first paragraph from GAIM's EULA, seen here:

    "GAIN Publishing offers some of the most popular software available on the Internet free of charge ("GAIN-Supported Software") in exchange for your agreement to also install GAIN AdServer software ("GAIN"), which will display Pop-Up, Pop-Under, and other types of ads on your computer based on the information we collect as stated in this Privacy Statement. We refer to consumers who have GAIN on their system as 'Subscribers.' "

  5. I don't trust a EULA to tell me it has spyware by antispam_ben · · Score: 3, Interesting

    From TFA:

    "The goal of this was to prove that one should read all EULAs, so that one can see if an app is spyware if it is buried in the EULA."

    This is even assuming the 'this product includes spyware' statement is even there, encoded in a bunch of legalese. Companies that have spyware in their products are going to hide it as much as is legally possible, and even moreso if they think they can get away with it. This story indicates that they probably CAN get away with it.

    --
    Tag lost or not installed.
  6. Consider this by HyperChicken · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Sure, it cost them $1,000, but it's going to get their name in the press.

    --
    Free of Flash! Free of Flash!
  7. Re:$1,000 for reading all the way through EULAs? by temojen · · Score: 5, Interesting
    I mean would you sign somthing you didn't understand?

    Interestingly, in 2002 the ER staff were shocked when I insisted on reading the consent for surgery form before signing it. Most people don't read things that are put in front of them that they're told is standard and must be signed.

  8. World of Warcraft EULA by egburr · · Score: 5, Interesting
    As the article says, it pays to read the EULA. I may not have received big bucks, but at least I managed to receive what the EULA said I should despite the company's refusal to honor it.

    A few days ago I submitted a story about Blizzard not honoring their EULA in full. After much arguing with Blizzard's support staff, I have heard from them today:

    We have been investigating the issues you have raised in connection with our EULA and our Terms of Use. Our legal team is currently in the process of revising our documentation to make the permissions and restrictions more clear for situations such as yours.

    In the meantime, we will provide you with a new standard-edition Authentication Key for World of Warcraft. Please use this key to create a new account for yourself:

    [key deleted]

    Please note that the account associated with the old key that you have will be permanently disabled and rendered unplayable, in order to facilitate the creation of a new account.

    If you are interested in purchasing additional copies of World of Warcraft, we strongly recommend that you not acquire used or opened copies, since similar circumstances may similarly delay or prevent your ability to enjoy the product.

    The really funny part is that they have never asked for the old key, yet somehow they have disabled it. I can't check, because it never worked for me.

    --

    Edward Burr
    Having a smoking section in a restaurant is like having a peeing section in a swimming pool.
  9. Re:$1,000 for reading all the way through EULAs? by rpetre · · Score: 3, Interesting
    To demonstrate, it gives the first paragraph from GAIM's EULA, seen here:

    Please, please, people, make an effort and reread your post before submitting it.

    My very first thought was: Gaim has an EULA? Oh my god, how long did i sleep last night?

  10. Re:No Kidding by spywarearcata.com · · Score: 3, Interesting

    On the original Macintosh rom, Don Dxxxxx put an easter egg of a little stick guy running across the screen on the bottom. The kicker was that it only did this randomly only every 1 out of 35635 seconds or something... hard to duplicate what someone saw from the corner of their eye.

    Alas it was taken out of the release ROM.

    This was right after Lisa and Apple /// so Apple management weren't quite as playful as they had been.

  11. Re:Steve Mann's Ouijagree by __aailob1448 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    It's funny, in french, Oui j'agree means Yes, I agree. Of course, the word agree doesn't exist in french (though its cousin agreement does (agrement)). A similare word would be "accepte". Well, this post was pointless :p

  12. The Van Halen brown M&Ms by Garabito · · Score: 5, Interesting
    This reminds me of the story of Van Halen putting a little clause in their concert contracts, stating that they demanded a bowl of M&Ms in backstage, but the brown ones would have to be removed. The presence of a single brown M&M in the bowl was enough to cancel the concert without any notice.

    According to the band the reason for this clause was to assure that the contract had been read and understood and therefore, all technical specifications for stage conditions, power and so forth would be met.