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Making Sense of Software EULAs

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the not-withstanding-the-above dept.

Brian E. writes "An informal Clearware.org poll indicates that 67% of the 66 respondants never or rarely completely read end-user license agreements (EULAs). Clearware.org aims to make sense of software by proposing guidelines for vendors to characterize end-user license agreements. Defined characteristics include terms and conditions found in existing EULAs that impact control over the user's experience, privacy and system security. The guideline extends on the idea of Creative Commons' commons deed and RDF/XML metadata formats. This simplifies EULA terms in a consumer friendly way similar to care labels on clothing, nutrition facts on food and warnings on hazardous materials."

3 of 277 comments (clear)

  1. Typo in the summary..... by Mayhem178 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I believe it should read:

    An informal Clearware.org poll indicates that 67% of the 66 respondants never or rarely comply to end-user license agreements (EULAs).

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    "You will pay for your lack of vision..." - Emperor Palpatine to Ray Charles

  2. I thought these were unenforceable by yagu · · Score: 5, Insightful

    IANAL (hate that acronym), but as I recently understood it, EULA's are in almost all regards unenforcable as they are contracts forged under duress. I pretty much have stopped reading them.

  3. A new hobby for the bored by Antony+T+Curtis · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If you have the time and the money, here is a new hobby for you....

    1. Buy lots of software at your local big-name retail outlet.
    2. In your excitement, rip open the boxes and get access to the EULA.
    3. If the EULA is on the CD, open the CD case, load the CD and get to the EULA.
    4. Disagree with it.
    5. Return the software in opened packaging, for a full refund.
    6. If your big-name retail outlet refuses then the software vendor *must* refund it,
    7. No you will not pay for shipping. You will happily throw it all in the trash can if they refund the money.
    8. If they don't want to refund, take them to small claims court.
    9. Argue that the full EULA should have been visible on the outside of the packaging in reasonable size type.
    10. If you are vision impaired, argue that the Braile EULA should be on the packaging too or that typeface should be large print.

    Remeber to keep copies of your receipts and correspondences!

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    No sig. Move along - nothing to see here.