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Surprises in Microsoft Vista's EULA

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the oh-look-a-sheep dept.

androthi writes "Scott Granneman takes a look at some surprises in Microsoft Vista's EULA that limit what security professionals and others can do with the new operating system. You want to post benchmarking results? Well, Microsoft may now have a say in it. Vista's EULA no longer shows up on Microsoft's software licensing page, but does still exist — also take note of Windows DRM deciding what you can and can not listen to, and Defender deciding and removing what it considers spyware automatically (by default)."

9 of 385 comments (clear)

  1. The only winning strategy by j00r0m4nc3r · · Score: 5, Funny

    Is not to play

  2. Moo by Chacham · · Score: 4, Funny

    I have the best comment *ever* about this story.

    I'll post it as soon as Microsoft oks it.

    --
    Have you read my journal today?
  3. What an Awesome Idea! by Mateo_LeFou · · Score: 3, Funny

    If we keep brainstorming great stuff like that, we will be able to do all kinds of awesome stuff, like:

    study our own computers' performance.
    tell people what we find
    share ideas on how to improve them

    Before you know it, we'l have "free speech" as I like to call it.

    --
    My turnips listen for the soft cry of your love
  4. Haven't we forgotten something? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    It's *Microsoft's* operating system, you're just *renting* it.

  5. What about a Dell? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
    Suppose you buy yourself a Dell pre-loaded with Vista. Turn it on and it boots right in. You never agreed to that EULA then, so you're free to do with it as you will. For that matter, just claim you had someone else install it for you.

    In other news, this just means that I have a couple more items on my to-do list for the eventual Vista migration:
    • Remove the restrictions on unsigned drivers
    • Remove EULA from install ISO
    • Remove Defender
    • Remove WGA
    • Remove WMP
    • Remove Windows Firewall
    • Remove Windows Antivirus
    • Remove Security Center
    • Set theme to Windows Classic - screw these happy rounded edges on everything, I want my cursor to BLEED on the sharp corners if I hit them wrong.
    Hm, maybe I should just wait until a Vista Pro Lite ISO hits the Torrent networks?
  6. I know why... by Soapy+One · · Score: 2, Funny

    Microsoft doesn't want us posting benchmarks proving that Vista is worthless...it might hurt their sales.

  7. Re:sined, sealed and delivered by ClamIAm · · Score: 4, Funny

    Yeah, tell me about it. Soon, MS's EULAs will require a paper contract, with a notary cosine. And with every little thing they get away with, they'll get more obtuse. Of course, I feel like I'm going off on a tangent, here...

  8. Re:sined, sealed and delivered by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Microsoft's locked in monopoly is sined

    I think your hypotenuse is flawed. As a corporation, Microsoft can only cosine a monopoly.

  9. Re:Psst... Don't tell anybody... by qurk · · Score: 2, Funny

    but admit that we are dependant on a microsoft OS because of its interoperability with 90% of the programs most computer-savvy people need to survive their day-to-day lives.
    Hmmmm, I wouldn't consider you a computer-savvy person if you can't find fully functional if not better Linux replacements for 90% of Microsoft software (except games). Even with games if you are calling yourself "computer savvy" I think you can set up wine or winex or something and get most games to run on Linux. Hmm...I've heard strong cases from people in specific cases (graphics, music editing, some office software), but to say that computer savvy people are dependant on Microsoft OS is a little over the top.
    I haven't touched Microsoft software for like 5 years and I guess your comment struck a chord with me, as it implies that I am not "computer savvy", heh.